tihxavy  of  trhe  ^theological  Seminar;)? 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 

PURCHASED  BY  THE 

MRS.  ROBERT  LENOX  KENNEDY 

CHURCH  HISTORY  FUND 


BS2420  .6.N56 

Newton,  Richard,  1813-1887. 

Life  of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  young. 


AT  THE  HOUSE  OF  MAB-Y  &.  MARTHA o 


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THE 


JUL  21  1924 


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FOR  THE  YOUNG 


BY   THE 


Rev,  Richard  Newton,  D.  D. 


ILLUSTRATED    WITH   FIVE    HUNDRED    EXGRAVIXGS    ON   STEEL    AND    WOOD. 


DIVISION    II 

Pages  483  to  end 


PHILADELPHIA 
GEORGE   BARRIE,    PUBLISHER 


ALL    RIGHTS    RESERVED 


COPYRIGHT,     1876-80,    BY    G.    &    B. 

In  1880  BY  George  Barrie 


THE    WIDOW'S    CRUSE, 


THE  APOSTLES  CHOSEN. 


}S  SOON  as  he  returned  victorious  from   the 
temptation  in  the  wilderness,  Jesus  entered 
on  the  work  of  his  pubHc  ministry.     We 
find  him,  at  once,  preaching  to  the  people, 
healing  the  sick,  and  doing  many  wonderful 
works.     The  commencement  of  his  ministry 
is  thus  described   by  St.  Math,  iv:    23-25. 
"And  Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee,  teaching 
in    their    synagogues,    and    preaching    the 
gospel   of    the    kingdom,  and    healing   all 
manner  of  sickness,  and  all  manner  of  dis- 
ease  among   the   people.      And    his   fame 
went  throughout  all  Syria;  and  they  brought 
unto  him  all   sick   people  that  were  taken 
with  divers  diseases  and  torments,  and  those  which  were  possessed  with 
devils,  and  those  which  were  lunatic,  and  those  that  had  the  palsy;  and 
he  healed    them.     And  there   followed  him  great  multitudes  of  people 

483 


484 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


from  Galilee,  and  from  Decapolis,  and  from  Jerusalem,  and  from  Judea. 
and  from  beyond  Jordan."  What  a  blessed  beginning  of  the  most 
blessed  of  all  ministries  this  was !  He  came  to  bless  our  world.  He  did 
bless  it,  as  no  one  else  could  have  done.  And  here,  we  see,  how  he 
entered  on  his  work. 

And  one  of  the  first  things  he  did,  after  thus  beginning  his  ministry, 
was  to  gather  his  disciples  round  him.  The  first  two,  that  we  find  named 
among  his  disciples,  are  John  and  Andrew.     They  had  been  disciples  of 


Mount  Hermon — Desert  of  Decapolis. 


John  the  Baptist.  Their  master  pointed  them  to  Jesus,  and  said — "  Behold 
the  Lamb  of  God."  When  they  heard  this  they  followed  Jesus,  and- 
became  his  disciples.  When  Andrew  met  with  his  brother  Simon  Peter, 
he  said  to  him  "  we  have  found  the  Messias — the  Christ.  And  he  brought 
him  to  Jesus."  After  this  we  are  told  that  "Jesus  findeth  Philip,  and  saith 
unto  him,  Follow  me."  He  was  an  acquaintance  of  Andrew  and  Peter, 
and  lived  in  the  same  town  with  them.  He  obeyed  the  call  at  once,  and 
became  one  of  the  disciples  of  Jesus. 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN.  485 

Philip  had  a  friend  named  Nathanael.  The  next  time  he  met  him,  he 
said,  "we  have  found  him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets 
did  write,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  son  of  Joseph."  But  Nazareth  was  a 
despised  place,  and  had  a  bad  reputation.  Nathanael  had  a  very  poor 
opinion  of  the  place,  and  he  asked — "Can  there  any  good  thing  come  out 
of  Nazareth?"     Philip  saith  unto  him — "Come  and  see." 

And  this  is  what  we  should  say  to  persons  when  we  wish  them  to 
become  Christians.  There  is  so  much  that  is  lovely  and  excellent  in 
Jesus,  that  if  people  will  only  "  come  and  see  " :  if  they  will  only  prove 
for  themselves  what  a  glorious  Saviour  he  is,  they  will  find  it  impossible 
to  help  loving  and  serving  him.  Nathanael  came  to  Jesus  And  when 
he  heard  the  wonderful  words  that  Jesus  spoke  to  him  he  was  converted 
at  once,  and  expressed  his  wonder  by  saying — "  Rabbi,  thou  art  the  Son 
of  God;  thou  art  the  Kino-  of  Israel."  We  can  read  all  about  this  in 
John  i:  43-51.  Nathanael  became  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  and  one  of  the 
twelve  apostles,  and  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  one  who  bears  the  name 
of  Bartholomew,  in  the  different  lists  of  the  apostles. 

After  this  we  read  of  Jesus  calling  Matthew  the  publican,  who  was  a 
tax-gatherer.  This  is  what  is  meant  by  his  "  sitting  at  the  receipt  of 
custom."  "  Follow  me  "  were  the  words  spoken  to  him.  He  obeyed  at 
once;  left  all  and  followed  Jesus.  St.  Luke  and  St.  Mark  mention  this 
same  call,  but  they  give  the  name  of  Levi,  to  the  person  thus  called.  This 
is  not  strange,  for  it  was  common  among  the  Jews  for  persons  to  have 
two  names.  Sometimes  they  were  called  by  one  of  these  names,  and 
sometimes  by  the  other. 

Here  we  have  the  account  of  six  persons,  who  became  disciples  of 
Jesus;  and  of  the  different  ways  in  which  they  were  led  to  follow  him. 
No  doubt  many  others  were  led  to  become  his  disciples  from  simply  hear- 
ing him  preach;  and  from  listening  to  the  gracious  words  that  he  spoke. 

And  very  soon  after  he  had  gathered  together  a  large  company  of 
disciples,  he  made  choice  of  twelve,  out  of  this  number,  who  were  to  be 
his  apostles.  He  wished  these  men  to  be  with  him  all  the  time.  They 
were  to  hear  his  teaching,  and  see  his  miracles,  and  so  be  prepared  to 
take  his  place,  and  carry  on  his  work  when  he  should  return  to  heaven. 

It  was  necessary  for  these  men  to  be  chosen.     When  Washington 


486 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


was  appointed  to  conduct  our  armies  during  the  Revolution,  he  chose  a 
number  of  generals  to  help  him.  And  it  is  natural  for  us  to  think  of 
Washington  and  his  generals.  But  just  as  natural  it  is  to  think  of — Jesus 
and  his  apostles. 

And  this  is  the  subject  we  have  now  to   consider — The  Apostles 
Chosen. 

And  in  considering  this  subject  there  are  four  things  of  which  to 
speak. 

The  first,  is  the  condition 
and  cJiaracter  of  tJie  men  whom 
yesiis  chose  as  his  apostles. 

The  second,  is  the  work 
these  men  were  called  to  do. 

The  third,  is  the  help  that 
was  given  them  in  doing  this 
work;  and 

The  fourth,  is  the  lesson 
taught  tts  by  this  subject.  Or,  to 
make  the  points  of  the  subject 
as  short  as  possible,  we  may 
state  them  thus: 

The  mejt.    The  work.    The 
help.      The  lesson. 
JVe  begin   then  with  speaking  of — The  men — or  the  conditioti  and 
character  of  those  whom  yesus  chose  to  be  his  apostles  or  helpers. 

Now  we  might  have  thought  that  Jesus  would  have  chosen  his 
apostles,  or  helpers  from  among  the  angels  of  heaven.  They  are  so  wise-, 
and  good,  and  strong,  that  we  wonder  why  he  did  not  choose  them.  But 
he  did  not.  He  chose  men.  to  be  his  apostles.  And  what  kind  of  men 
did  he  choose  ?  If  we  had  been  asked  this  question  beforehand,  we 
should  have  supposed  that  he  would  certainly  have  chosen  the  wisest, 
and  the  most  learned  men,  the  richest  and  greatest  men  that  could  be 
found  in  the  world.  But  it  was  not  so.  Instead  of  this  he  chose  poor 
men,  unlearned  men,  men  that  were  not  famous  at  all ;  and  who  had  not 
been  heard  of  before.     Fishermen,  and  tax-gatherers,  and  men  occupying 


St.  Matthew. 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN. 


487 


very  humble  positions  in  life,  were  those  whom  Jesus  chose  to  be  his 
apostles. 

And  one  reason,  no  doubt,  why  Jesus  made  choice  of  men  of  this 
character  to  be  his  apostles,  was,  that  when  their  work  was  done,  no  one 
should  be  able  to  say  that  it  was  the  learning,  or  wisdom,  or  riches,  or 
power  of  men  by  whom  that  work  was  accomplished.  The  apostle  Paul 
teaches  us  that  this  is  the  way  in  which  God  generally  acts ;  and  that  he 
does  it  for  the  very  reason  just  spoken  of  He  says,  "God  hath  chosen 
the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise ;  and  God  hath 
chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  mighty ;  and  base  things 
of  the  world,  and  things  which  are 
despised  hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and 
things  which  are  not,  to  bring  to  nought 
the  things  that  are ;  that  no  flesh  should 
glory  in  his  presence."  i  Cor.  i :  27-29. 
The  meaning  of  this  passage  is  that 
God  loves  to  work  by  little  things. 
This  was  the  reason  why  Jesus  chose 
poor,  unlearned  fishermen  to  be  his 
apostles.  And  we  see  God  working  in 
the  same  way  continually. 

Look  at  yonder  sun.  God  made  it, 
and  hung  it  up  there  in  the  sky  that  it 
might  give  light  to  our  world.  But  the 
light  which  this  sun  gives  comes  to  us 
in  tiny  little  bits,  smaller  than  the  point  of  the  finest  needle  that  ever  was 
made.  They  are  so  small  that  hundreds  of  them  can  rush  right  into  our 
eyes,  as  they  are  doing  all  the  time,  and  not  hurt  them  the  least.  Here 
we  see  how  God  makes  use  of  little  things,  and  does  a  great  work  with 
them. 

And  then  look  at  yonder  ocean.  The  waves  of  that  ocean  are  so 
powerful  that  they  can  break  in  pieces  the  strongest  ships  that  men  have 
ever  built.  And  yet,  when  God  wishes  to  keep  that  mighty  ocean  in  its 
place,  he  makes  use  of  little  grains  of  sand  for  this  purpose.     Here  again 


St.  John. 


48S  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


we  see  how  God  employs  little  things,  and  does  a  great  work  with  them. 
And  we  find  God  working  in  this  way  continually.  Let  us  look  at  one 
or  two  illustrations. 

IVIiat  a  Plant  Did.  A  little  plant  was  given  to  a  sick  girl.  In  trying 
to  take  care  of  it,  the  family  made  changes  in  their  way  of  living,  which 
added  greatly  to  their  comfort  and  happiness.  First,  they  cleaned  the 
window,  that  more  light  might  come  in  to  the  leaves  of  the  plant.  Then, 
when  not  too  cold,  they  opened  the  window,  that  fresh  air  might  help  the 
plant  to  grow ;  and  this  did  the  family  good,  as  well  as  the  plant.  Next 
the  clean  window  made  the  rest  of  the  room  look  so  untidy,  that  they 
washed  the  floor,  and  cleaned  the  walls,  and  arranged  the  furniture  more 
neatly.  This  led  the  father  of  the  family  to  mend  a  broken  chair  or  two, 
which  kept  him  at  home  several  evenings.  After  this,  he  took  to  staying 
at  home  with  his  family  in  the  evenings,  instead  of  spending  his  time  at 
the  tavern ;  and  the  money  thus  saved  went  to  buy  comforts  for  them  all. 
And  then,  as  their  home  grew  more  pleasant,  the  whole  family  loved  it 
better  than  ever  before,  and  they  grew  healthier,  and  happier  with  their 
flowers.  What  a  little  thing  that  plant  was,  and  yet  it  was  God's  apostle 
to  that  famil)'!  It  did  a  great  work  for  thenl  in  blessing  them,  and  making 
them  happy.  And  that  was  work  that  an  angel  would  have  been  glad  to 
do. 

Brought  ill  by  a  Smile.  A  London  minister  said  to  a  friend,  one  day; 
"Seven  persons  were  received  into  my  church  last  Sunday,  and  they  were 
all  brought  in  by  a  smile." 

"Brought  in  by  a  smile!     Pray  what  do  you  mean  ?" 

"Let  me  explain.  Several  months  ago,  as  I  passed  by  a  certain 
house  on  my  way  to  church,  I  saw,  held  in  the  arms  of  its  nurse,  a  beau- 
tiful infant;  and  as  it  fixed  its  bright  black  eyes  on  me,  I  smiled,  and  the 
dear  child  returned  the  smile.  The  next  Sabbath  the  babe  was  again 
before  the  window.  Again  I  smiled,  and  the  smile  was  returned,  as 
before.  The  third  Sabbath,  as  I  passed  by  the  window,  I  threw  the  little 
one  a  kiss.  Instantly  its  hand  was  extended,  and  a  kiss  thrown  back  to 
me.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  I  learned  to  watch  for  the  baby  on  my 
way  to  church;  and  as  the  weeks  went  by,  I  noticed  that  the  nurse  and 
baby  were  not  alone.    Other  members  of  the  family  pressed  to  the  window 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN. 


489 


to  see  the  gentleman  who  always  had  a  smile  for  the  dear  baby — the 
household  pet. 

"  One  Sunday  morning,  as  I  passed,  two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl, 
stood  at  the  window  beside  the  baby.  That  morning  the  father  and 
mother  had  said  to  those  children :  '  Get  ready  for  church,  for  we  think, 
that  the  gentleman  who  always  smiles  to  the  baby,  is  a  minister.  When 
he  passes  you  may  follow  him,  and  see  where  he  preaches.' 


The  Calling  of  St.  Matthew. 


"The  children  were  quite  willing  to  follow  the  suggestion  of  their 
parents,  and  after  I  had  passed,  the  door  opened,  and  the  children  stepped 
upon  the  pavement,  and  kept  near  me,  till  I  entered  my  church,  when  they 
followed  me,  and  seats  were  given  them. 

"When  they  returned  home,  they  sought  their  parents,  and  eagerly 


490 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


exclaimed:  'He  is  a  minister,  and  we  have  found  his  church,  and  he 
preached  a  beautiful  sermon  this  morning.  You  must  go  and  hear  him 
next  Sunday.' 

"  It  was  not  difficult  to  persuade  the  parents  to  go,  and  guided  by 
their  children  they  found  their  way  to  the  church.  They,  too,  were 
pleased,  and  other  members  of  the  family  were  induced  to  come  to  the 
house  of  God.     God  blessed  what  they  heard  to  the  good  of  their  souls. 


View  from  above  Mazaieth. 


and  seven  members  of  this  family  have  been  led  to  become  Christians, 
and  join  the  church,  and,  I  repeat  what  I  said  before :  '  they  were  all 
brought  in  by  a  smile.' " 

What  a  little  thing  a  smile  is!  And  yet,  here  we  see  how  God  made 
use  of  so  small  a  thing  as  this,  to  make  seven  persons  Christians,  and  to 
save  their  souls  forever! 

Of  the  God  who  can  work  in  this  way,  it  may  \yell  be  said  that 
he  loves  to  work  by  little  things.  It  is  the  way  in  which  he  is  working 
continually. 

How  eagerly,  then,  we  may  try  to  learn,  and  to  practice  what  has 
been  very  sweetly  expressed  in 


THE  APOSTLES    CHOSEN. 


491 


THE  MITE  SONG. 

'Only  a  drop  in  the  bucket, 
But  every  drop  will  tell, 
The  bucket  would  soon  be  empty, 
Without  the  drops  in  the  well. 


Only  a  poor  little  penny, 
It  was  all  I  had  to  give; 

But  as  pennies  make  the  dollars. 
It  may  help  some  cause  to  live. 


A  few  little  bits  of  ribbon, 

And  some  toys — they  were  not  new. 
But  they  made  the  sick  child  happy, 

And  that  made  me  happ)',  too. 


l-vi 


%. 


'^ 


V. 


Only  some  out-grown  garments ; 

They  were  all  I  had  to  spare ; 
But  they'll  help  to  clothe  the  needy. 

And  the  poor  are  everywhere. 


A  word  now  and  then  of  comfort, 
That  cost  me  nothing  to  say; 

But  the  poor  old  man  died  happy, 
And  it  helped  him  on  the  way. 


God  loveth  the  cheerful  giver, 

Though  the  gifts  be  poor  and  small ; 
But  what  must  he  think  of  his  children 

Who  never  give  at  all  ? " 


.V 


.'if' 


W'^%\ 


492 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


God  loves  to  work  by  little  means.  We  see  this  when  we  think  of 
the  men  whom  Jesus  chose  to  be  his  apostles.  The  first  thing  about  this 
subject  is — the  men. 

The  second  thing  to  speak  of,  in  connection  with  this  subject,  is — The 
WORK — they  had  to  do. 

What  this  work  was  we  find  fijlly  stated  in  the  14th  chapter  of  St. 
Matthew.  In  this  chapter  Jesus  told  the  apostles  all  about  the  work  they 
were  to  do  for  him,  and  how  they  were  to  do  it.  In  the  7th  and  8th  verses 
of  this  chapter  we  have  distinctly  stated  just  what  they  were  to  do.     "As 


Calling  Peter  and  Andrew. 


ye  go,  preach,  saying.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand  :  Heal  the  sick, 
cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out  devils." 

On  this  occasion  Jesus  sent  his  apostles  to  do  the  work  committed  to 
them,  not  among  the  Gentiles,  but  only  among  the  Jews;  or  as  he  calls 
them — "the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel,"  v.  5,  6.  But,  after  his 
resurrection,  and  just  before  he  went  up  to  heaven,  he  enlarged  their 
commission.  His  parting  command  to  them  then  was — '' Go  ye  into  all 
the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature^     St.  Mark  .\\  i :   15. 

When  Jesus,  their  Master,  went  to  heaven  they  were  to  take  up, 
and  carry  on,  the  great  work  that  he  had  begun.     Those  twehc  men  were 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN. 


493 


to  begin  the  work  of  changing  the  religion  of  the  world.  They  were  to 
overturn  the  idols  that  had  been  worshipped  for  ages.  They  were  to  shut 
up  the  temples  in  which  those  idols  had  been  worshipped.  They  were  to 
"  turn  men  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God."  Acts  xxvi:  i8.  They  were  to  go  up  and  down  the  world,  every- 
where, telling  the 
wondrous  story  of 
Jesus  and  his  love. 
And  in  doing  this 
work  they  were  to 
be  the  means  of 
saving  the  souls  of 
all  who  believed 
their  message,  and 
in  the  end  of  win- 
ning the  world 
back  to  Jesus,  till, 
according  to  God's 


promise,  he  has 
"  the  heathen  for  his 
inheritance,  and 
the  utmost  parts  of 
the  earth  for  his 
possession."  Ps. 
ii:8. 

This  was  the 
grandest,  and  most 
important  work 
that  men  were  ever 
called  upon  to  do. 
The  apostles  spent 

their  lives  in  doing  this  work ;  and  then  they  left  it  for  others  to  carry  on. 
The  work  is  not  finished  yet.  And,  if  we  learn  to  love  and  serve  Jesus, 
we  may  help  to  carry  it  on.  We  may  be  apostles,  too,  though  in  a  lower 
sense  than  that  in   which   the   first    twelve  were    apostles.     An    apostle 


Calling  James  and  John. 


494  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


means — one  sent  But  Jesus  sends  into  his  vineyard  to  work  for  him,  all 
who  become  his  loving  children.  And,  in  this  sense  it  is  true,  that  all 
who  love  and  ser\-e  Jesus  are  his  apostles.  He  says  to  each  of  us — "Go, 
work  to-day,  in  my  vineyard."  St.  Math,  xxi:  28.  And  in  another  place 
he  says — "  Let  him  that  heareth,  say,  come."     Rev.  xxii :  17. 

And  when  we  are  trying  to  tell  people  of  Jesus,  and  his  love,  and  to 
bring  them  to  him,  then  we  are  helping  to  carry  on  the  same  great  work 
that  Jesus  gave  his  apostles  to  do.  Let  us  look  at  some  examples  of 
persons  who  have  been  apostles  for  God,  and  helped  to  do  the  work  of 
apostles. 

Aunt  Lucy. — I  heard  the  other  day  of  a  good  old  woman,  in  the 
State  of  Michigan,  known  as  Aunt  Lucy.  She  is  eighty-four  years  old, 
and  lives  all  alone,  supporting  herself  principally  by  carpet-weaving.  All 
that  she  can  save  from  her  earnings,  after  paying  for  her  necessary 
expenses,  she  spends  in  buying  Bibles,  which  she  distributes  among  the 
children,  and  the  poor  of  the  neighborhood.  Thirteen  large  family  Bibles, 
and  fifty  small  ones,  have  thus  been  given  away — good,  well-bound 
Bibles. 

A  neighbor,  Avho  has  watched  this  good  work,  very  closely,  says  that 
two-thirds  of  the  persons,  to  whom  Aunt  Lucy  has  given  Bibles,  have 
afterwards  become  Christians.  In  doing  this  work  Aunt  Lucy  was  an 
apostle. 

TJie  Charcoal  Carrier. — One  Sunday  afternoon,  in  summer,  a  little 
girl  named  Mary,  going  home  from  a  Sunday-school  in  the  country,  sat 
down  to  rest,  under  the  shade  of  a  tree  by  the  road-side.  While  sitting 
there  she  opened  her  Bible  to  read.  As  she  sat  reading,  a  man,  well 
known  in  that  neighborhood,  as  Jacob,  the  charcoal  carrier,  came  by  with 
his  donkey.  Jacob  used  to  work  in  the  woods,  making  charcoal ;  and  then 
carry  it,  in  sacks  on  his  donkey's  back,  and  sell  it.  He  was  not  a  Christian 
man,  and  was  accustomed  to  work  with  his  donkey,  as  hard  on  Sunday,  as 
on  week-days. 

When  he  came  by  where  Mary  was  sitting,  he  stopped  a  moment,  and 
said,  in  a  good-natured  way : 

"What  book  is  that  you  are  reading,  my  little  maid?" 

"  It  is  God's  book — the  Bible,"  said  Mary. 


THE  APOSTLES  CHOSEN.  495 

"Let  me  hear  you  read  a  little  in  it,  if  you  please,"  said  he,  stopping 
his  donkey. 

Mary  began,  at  the  place  where  the  book  was  open,  and  read  : — "  Re- 
member the  Sabbath  day,  to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days  shalt  thou  labor,  and 
do  all  thy  work." 

"There,  that's  enough,"  said  Jacob,  "and  now  tell  me  what  it  means." 

"  It  means,"  said  Mary,  "  that  you  mustn't  carry  charcoal,  on  Sunday, 
nor  let  your  donkey  carry  it." 

"Does  it?"  said  Jacob,  musing  a  little.  "I  tell  you  what  then,  I  must 
think  over  what  you  have  said." 

And  he  did  think  over  it.  And  the  result  of  his  thinking  was,  that 
instead  of  going  with  his  donkey  to  the  woods,  on  the  next  Sunday,  he 
went  with  his  two  little  girls  to  the  Sunday-school.  And  the  end  of  it  all 
was  that  Jacob,  the  charcoal  carrier,  became  a  Christian,  and  God's  blessing 
rested  on  him  and  on  his  family. 

Little  Mary  was  doing  an  apostle's  work,  when  she  read  and  explained 
the  Bible  to  Jacob,  and  was  the  means  of  bringing  him  to  Jesus. 

The  Use  of  Fragments. — In  the  Cathedral  at  Lincoln,  England,  there 
is  a  window  of  stained  glass  which  was  made  by  an  apprentice  out  of 
little  pieces  of  glass  that  had  been  thrown  aside  by  his  master,  as  useless. 
It  is  said  to  be  the  most  beautiful  window  in  the  Cathedral.  And  if,  like 
this  apprentice,  we  carefully  gather  up,  and  improve  the  little  bits  of  time, 
of  knowledge,  and  of  opportunities  that  we  have,  we  may  do  work  for 
God  more  beautiful  than  that  Cathedral  window.  We  may  do  work  like 
that  which  the  apostles  were  sent  to  do.  Here  are  some  sweet  lines, 
written  by,  I  know  not  whom,  about  that  beautiful  window,  made  out  of 
the  little  pieces  of  glass : 

"  Great  things  are  made  of  fragments  small, 
Small  things  are  germs  of  great; 
And,  of  earth's  stately  temples,  all 
To  fragments  owe  their  weight. 

This  window,  peer  of  all  the  rest, 

Of  fragments  small  is  wrought ; 
Of  fragments  that  the  artist   deemed, 

Unworthy  of  his  thought. 


496  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


And  thus  may  we,  of  little  things, 
Kind  words  and  gentle  deeds. 

Add  wealth,  or  beauty  to  our  liv^es, 
Which  greater  acts,  exceeds. 

Each  victory  o'er  a  sinful  thought, 
Each  action,  true  and  pure, 

Is,  'mid  our  life's  engraving,  wrought 
In  tints  that  shall   endure." 


The  second  thing  about  the  apostles  is,  the  work — they  did. 

The  third  thing,  for  ns  to  notice  about  the  apostles,  w^The  Help — 
they  received. 

In  one  place,  we  are  told  that  Jesus  "gave  them  power  against 
unclean  spirits,  to  cast  them  out,  and  to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness, 
and  all  manner  of  disease,"  St.  Math,  x:  i.  In  another  place  we  are 
told,  that  for  their  comfort  and  encouragement  in  the  great  work  they 
had  to  do,  Jesus  said  to  them,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world."  Math,  xxviii :  20.  And  if  they  only  had  Jesus  with 
them,  no  matter  what  the  work  was  they  had  to  do,  they  would  be  sure 
of  having  all  the  help  they  might  need.  The  apostle  Paul  understood 
this  very  well,  for  he  said,  "  I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ,  which 
strengtheneth  me."     Phil,  iv  :   13. 

And  then,  as  if  his  own  presence  with  them  were  not  enough,  Jesus 
promised  that  his  apostles  should  have  the  help  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
carrying  on  their  work.  Just  before  leaving  them  to  go  to  heaven,  he 
said  to  the  disciples — "  Ye  shall  receive  power,  after  that  the  Holy  Ghost 
is  come  upon  you."  Acts  i:  8.  And  what  this  power  was  we  see  in  the 
case  of  the  apostle  Peter;  for  the  first  sermon  he  preached,  after  the  Holy 
Ghost  came  upon  him,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  was  the  means  of  convert- 
ing three  thousand  souls.     Acts  ii:  41. 

And  the  same  God  who  gave  the  apostles  all  the  help  they  needed, 
has  promised  to  do  the  same  for  you,  and  me,  and  for  all  who  try  to 
work  for  him.  There  are  many  promises  of  this  kind,  in  the  Bible,  to 
which  I  might  refer.  But  I  will  only  mention  one.  This  is  so  sweet, 
and  precious  that  it  deserves  to  be  written  in  letters  of  gold.     There  is 


-t3 


O 


C 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN.  499 

no  passage  in  the  Bible  that  has  given  me  so  much  comfort,  and 
encouragement  in  trying  to  work  for  God,  as  this.  I  refer  here  to  Isaiah 
xh  :  10.  "  Fear  thou  not;  for  I  am  with  thee  ;  be  not  dismayed;  for  I  am 
thy  God ;  I  will  strengthen  thee ;  yea — I  will  help  thee."  This  promise 
was  not  given  for  prophets,  and  apostles  only,  but  for  all  God's  people 
to  the  end  of  time.  You  and  I,  if  we  are  trying  to  serve  God,  may 
take  it  as  ours.  God  meant  it  for  us.  And  when  we  get  this  promised 
help  from  God,  we  can  do  any  work  he  has  for  us  to  do,  and  be  happy  in 
doing  it. 

For  TJiine  is  the  Poiver. — "  I  can't  do  it — it's  quite  impossible.  I've 
tried  five  times,  and  can't  get  it  right " — and  Ben  Hartley  pushed  his 
book  and  slate  away  in  despair.  Ben  was  a  good  scholar.  He  was  at  the 
head  of  his  class,  and  was  very  anxious  to  stay  there.  But  the  sums  he 
had  now  to  do  were  very  hard.  He  could  not  do  them,  and  was  afraid 
of  losing  his  place  in  the  class.  Most  of  the  boys  had  some  one  at  home 
to  help  them;  but  Ben  had  no  one.  His  father  was  dead,  and  his  mother, 
though  a  good  Christian  woman,  had  not  been  to  school  much  when  a 
girl,  and  she  could  not  help  Ben. 

Mrs.  Hartley  felt  sorry  for  her  son's  perplexity,  and  quietly  said, 
"Then,  Ben,  you  don't  believe  in  the  Lord's  prayer?" 

"  The  Lord's  prayer,  mother !  Why,  there's  nothing  there  to  help  a 
fellow  do  his  sums." 

"  O,  yes  ;  there  is.  There  is  help  for  every  trouble  in  life  in  the  Lord's 
prayer,  if  we  only  know  how  to  use  it.  I  was  trying  a  long  time  before  I 
found  out  what  the  last  part  of  this  prayer  really  means.  I'm  no  minister, 
or  scholar,  Ben,  but  I'll  try  and  show  you.  You  know  that  in  this  prayer 
we  ask  God  for  our  daily  bread ;  we  ask  him  to  keep  us  from  evil ;  and  to 
forgive  us  our  sins;  and  then  we  say:  'for  thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the 
power,  and  the  glory.'  It's  God's  power  that  we  rely  on — not  our  own ; 
and  it  often  helps  me,  Ben,  when  I  have  something  hard  to  do.  I  say, 
'  For  thine  is  the  power — this  is  my  duty,  heavenly  Father;  but  I  can't  do 
it  myself;  give  me  thy  power  to  help  me,'  and  he  does  it,  Ben,  he  does  it." 

Ben  sat  silent.  It  seemed  almost  too  familiar  a  prayer.  And  yet  he 
remembered  when  he  had  to  stay  home  from  school  because  he  had  no 
clothes  fit  to  go  in,  how  he  prayed  to  God  about  it,  and  the  minister's  wife 


500 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


brought  him  a  suit  the  very  next  day.     "But  a  boy's  sums,  mother!  it 
seems  Hke  sucli  a  little  thing  to  ask  God  about." 

"Those  sums  are  not  a  little  thing  to  you,  Ben.  Your  success  at 
scho(>l  tlc])cnds  on  \our  knowing  how  to  do  them.  That,  is  as  much  to 
Nou,  as  many  a  greater  thing  to  some  one  else.     Now  1  care  a  great  deal 


St.  Mark  and  St.  Luke. 


about  that,  because  I  love  you.  And  I  know  your  Faiher  in  heaven  loves 
you  more  than  I  do.  I  would  gladly  help  you,  if  I  could  ;  but  he  can 
help  you.     His  '  is  the  power;'  ask  him  to  help  you." 

After  doing  an  errand  for  his  mother,  Ben  picked  up  his  book,  and 
slate,  and  went  up  to  his  own  little  room.     Kneeling  down  by  the  bed  he 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN. 


501 


repeated  the  Lord's  prayer.  When  he  came  to — "  thine  is  the  kingdom," 
he  stopped  a  moment,  and  then  said,  with  all  his  heart — "  'And  thine  is 
the  power,'  heavenly  Father.  I  want  power  to  know  how  to  do  these 
sums.  There's  no  one  else  to  help  me.  Lord,  please  give  me  power,  for 
Jesus'  sake,  Amen. " 

Ben  waited  a  moment,  and  then,  still  on 
his  knees,  he  took  his  slate  and  tried  again. 
Do  you  ask  me  if  he  succeeded  ?  Remember 
what  Saint  James  says,  "  If  any  man  lack 
wisdom  let  him  ask  of  God,  who  giveth  to  all 
men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not:  and  it  shall 
be  given  hi)n."  Jas.  i.  5.  That  is  God's  promise, 
and  heaven  and  earth  must  pass  away  before 
one  of  his  promises  shall  fail.  Ben  had  prayed 
to  God  to  help  him,  and  God  answered  his 
prayer.  He  tried  once  more  to  work  out  those 
sums.  After  thinking  over  them  a  little  while, 
he  saw  the  mistake  he  had  made  in  neo"lectinor 
one  of  the  rules  for  working  the  sums.  He 
corrected  this  mistake,  and  then  he  found  they 
all  worked  out  beautifully.  The  next  day  he 
was  head  of  the  class  ;  for  he  was  the  only  bo\' 
who  could  say  that  he  had  done  the  sum  him- 
self, without  getting  any  one  at  home  to  help 
him. 

"And  yet  I  was  helped,  mother,"  said  Ben, 
"  for  I  am  sure  my  Father  in  heaven  helped 
me."    But  that  was  not  what  the  teacher  meant. 

After  this,  Ben  never  forgot  the  last  part  of  the  Lord's  prayer.  When 
he  needed  help  he  knew  "where  the  power  was  that  could  help  him. 

Here  was  where  the  apostles  got  the  help  they  needed  in  doing 
the  hard  work  they  had  to  do.  And  how  much  help  w^e  might  get  in 
doing  our  work  if  we  only  make  a  right  use  of  this  "power  which 
belongeth  unto  God ;"  and  which  he  is  always  ready  to  use  in  helping 
us. 


St.  Peter. 


502  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


The  help  they  received,  is  the  third  thing  to  remember  when  we 
think  about  the  apostles  and  their  work. 

The  last  thing  to  bear  in  mind  when  we  think  of  Jesits  choosing  his 
twc/ve  apostles,  is — The  Lesson — it  teaches  ns. 

There  are  many  lessons  we  might  learn  from  this  subject ;  but  there 
is  one,  so  much  more  important  than  all  the  rest,  that  we  may  very 
well  let  them  go,  and  think  only  of  this  one.  When  St.  Luke  tells  us 
about  Jesus  choosing  the  twelve  apostles,  he  mentions  one  very  important 
thing,  of  which  St.  Matthew,  in  his  account  of  it  says  nothing  at  all. 
And  it  is  this  thing  from  which  we  draw  our  lesson.  In  the  12th  verse 
of  the  6th  chapter  of  his  gospel,  St.  Luke  says — "  And  it  came  to  pass  in 
those  days,  that  he  (Jesus)  went  out  into  a  mountain  to  pray,  and 
continued  all  night  in  prayer  to  Godr  And  after  this,  the  first  thing  he 
did,  in  the  morning,  was  to  call  his  disciples  to  him,  and  out  of  them 
to  choose  the  twelve,  who  were  to  be  his  apostles.  And  the  lesson  we 
learn  from  this  part  of  the  subject  is — 

The  Lesson  of  Prayer. — Jesus  spent  the  whole  night  in  prayer  to 
God,  before  he  chose  his  apostles.  How  strange  this  seems  to  us  1  And 
yet  it  is  easy  enough  to  see  at  least  two  reasons  why  he  did  this.  One 
was  because  he  loved  to  pray.  We  know  how  pleasant  it  is  for  us  to  meet, 
and  talk  with  a  person  whom  we  love  very  much.  But  prayer  is^talking 
with  God — telling  him  what  we  want,  and  asking  his  help.  But  Jesus 
loved  his  Father  in  heaven,  with  a  love  deeper,  and  stronger  than  we  can 
understand.  This  must  have  made  it,  the  most  delightful  of  all  things 
for  him  to  be  engaged  in  prayer,  or  in  talking  with  his  Father  in  heaven. 
And,  if  we  really  love  Jesus,  prayer  will  not  be  a  hard  duty  to  us,  but  a 
sweet  privilege.  We  shall  love  to  pray,  because,  in  prayer  we  are  talking 
to  that  blessed  Saviour,  "  whom,  not  having  seen,  we  love."  And  this  was 
one  reason  why  Jesus  spent  the  whole  night  in  prayer,  before  choosing 
his  twelve  apostles. 

But  there  was  another  reason  why  Jesus  spent  so  much  time  in  prayer 
before  performing  this  important  work,  and  that  was  to  set  us  an  example. 
It  was  to  teach  us  the  very  lesson  of  which  we  are  now  speaking — the  les- 
son of  prayer.  Remember  how  much  power  and  wisdom  Jesus  had  in 
himself;  and   what  mighty  things  he  was  able  to  do.     And  yet,  if  He  felt 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN. 


503 


that  it  was  right  to  pray,  before  engaging  in  any  important  work,  how 
much  more  necessary  it  is  for  us  to  do  so! 

Let  us  learn  this  lesson  well.  Let  it  be  the  rule  and  habit  of 
our  lives  to  connect  prayer  with  everything  we  do.  This  will  make  us 
happ\-  in  our  own  souls,  and  useful  to  those  about  us. 

How  full  the  Bible  is  of  the  wonders  that  have  been  wrought  by 
prayer !    Just  think  for  a  moment  of  some  of  them. 

Abraham 
prays,  and  Lot 
is  delivered 
from  the  fiery 
flood  that  over- 
whelmed So- 
dom and  Go- 
morrah. Gen. 
xix:  29.  Jacob 
prays,  and  he 
wrestles  with 
the  angel,  and 
obtains  the 
blessing;  his 
brother  Esau's 
mind  is  won- 
derfully turned 
away  from  the 
wrath  he  had 
cherished  for 
twenty  years. 
Moses     prays 

and  Amalek  is  discomfited.  Joshua  prays  and  Achan  is  discovered. 
Hannah  prays  and  Samuel  is  born.  David  prays  and  Ahithophel  hangs 
himself.  Elijah  prays  and  a  famine  of  three  years  comes  upon  Israel. 
He  prays  again,  and  the  rain  descends,  and  the  famine  ends.  Elisha 
prays,  and  Jordan  is  divided.  He  prays  again,  and  the  dead  child's 
soul  is  brought  back  from  the  invisible  world.     Isaiah  and  Hezekiah  pray. 


Go  Preach. 


504  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

and  a  hundred  and  eighty-five  thousand  Assyrian  soldiers  are  slain, 
in  one  night,  by  the  unseen  sword  of  the  angel.  These  are  Bible  illustra- 
tions of  the  help  God  gives  to  his  people  in  answer  to  prayer..  And  the 
Bible  rule  for  prayer,  as  given  by  our  Saviour,  is,  "that  men  ought  always 
to  pray,"  Luke  xviii :  i .  St.  Paul's  way  of  stating  it  is — "  Praying  always, 
with  all  prayer,"  Ephes.  vi:  i8.  In  another  place  he  says — "  Pray  without 
ceasing,"  i  Thess.  v:  17.  And  even  the  heathen  teach  the  same  rule 
about  prayer.  Among  the  ruins  of  Nineveh,  an  inscription  on  a  tablet 
has  been  found,  which,  on  being  translated,  proved  to  contain  directions 
about  prayer.     It  may  be  entitled — 

^11  Assyrian  Call  to  Prayer. — These  are  the  words  of  the  call : — 

"  Pray  thou  !  pray  thou  ! 
Before  the  couch,  pray  ! 
Before  the  throne,  pray ! 
Before  the  canopy,  pray ! 
Before  the  building  of  lofty  head,  pray ! 
Before  the  rising  of  the  dawn,  pray ! 
Before  the  fire,  pray ! 
By  the  tablets  and  pap)-ri,  pray! 
By  tlie  side  of  the  river,  pray ! 

By  the  side  of  a  ship,  or  riding  in  a  ship,  or  leaving  the  ship,  pray! 
At  the  rising  of  the  sun,  or  the  setting  of  the  sun,  praj' ! 
On  coming  out  of  the  city,  on  entering  the  city,  pray! 
On  coming  out  of  the  great  gate,  on  entering  the  great  gate,  pray  ! 
On  coming  out  of  the  house,  pray !  on  entering  the  house,  pray ! 
In  the  place  of  judgment,  pray! 
In  the  temple,  pray  !  " 

This  is  like  the  Bible  rule  of — "  praying  always." 

Praying  for  a  Dinner. — "  Grandma,  aren't  we  going  to  church  this 
morning  ?"  asked  a  little  girl. 

"  My  child,  we  have  had  no  breakfast,  and  have  no  dinner  to  eat  when 
we  come  back,"  said  her  grandma. 

"  But  the  Lord  Jesus  can  give  it  to  us  if  we  ask  him,"  said  the  little 
girl.  "  Let's  ask  him."  So  they  kneeled  down,  and  asked  that  God,  "who 
feedeth  the  young  ravens  when  they  cry,"  to  remember  them,  and  help 
them. 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN. 


505 


Then  they  went  to  church.  They  found  it  very  much  crowded.  An 
old  gentleman  took  the  little  girl  upon  his  knee.  He  was  pleased  with 
her  quiet  behaviour.  On  parting  with  her  at  the  close  of  the  service,  he 
slipped  a  half  crown  into  her  hand.  "  See,  Grandma,"  she  said,  as  soon 
as  they  were  out  of  church,  "Jesus  has  sent  us  our  dinner." 

But  when  we  ask  God  to  help  us,  we  must  alvva)s  tr}-  to  help  our- 
selves. 

IVorkiiig  as  ivell  as  P7'aying. — Two  little  girls  went  to  the    same 
school ;  one  of  them,  named  Mary,  always  said  her  lessons  well,  the  other, 
named  Jane,  always  failed.    One  day  Jane  said,  "  Mary,  how  does  it  happen 
that  you  always  say  your  lessons 
so  well  ?"    IV'Iary  said  she  prayed 
over  her  lessons,  and  that  was 
the  secret  of  her  success. 

Jane  concluded  to  try  pray- 
ing. But  the  next  day  she  failed 
worse  than  ever.  In  tears,  she 
reproached  Mary  for  deceiving 
her.  "  But,  did  you  study  hard, 
as  well  as  pray  over  your  les- 
son ?"  asked  Mary. 

"  No ;  I  thought  if  I  only 
prayed,  that  was  all  I  had  to  do," 
replied  Jane.  "  Not  at  all.  God 
only  helps  those  who  try  to 
help   themselves.      You    must 

study  hard  as  well  as  pray,  if  you  wish  to  get  your  lessons  well,"  was 
Mary's  wise  answer.  The  next  day  Jane  studied,  as  well  as  prayed,  and 
she  had  her  lesson  perfectly. 

The  greatest  work  we  can  ever  do,  is  to  bring  a  soul  to  Jesus,  or  to 
convert  a  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  the 
way  in  which  this  may  be  done,  by  prayer  and  effort  combined : 

The  Coachman  and  his  Prayer. — "  I  was  riding  once,  on  the  top  of  a 
stage-coach,"  said  a  Christian  gentleman,  "when  the  driver,  by  my  side, 
began   to   swear  in   a   dreadful   manner.     I   lifted  up  my  heart  for  God's 


An  English  Cathedral. 


5o6  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


blessing  on  what  I  said ;  and  presently,  in  a  quiet  way,  I  asked  him  this 
question:  'Driver,  do  you  ever  pray?'  He  seemed  displeased  at  first; 
but  after  a  while  he  replied,  '  I  sometimes  go  to  church  on  Sunday  ;  and 
then  I  suppose  I  pray,  don't  I  ?'  I  am  afraid  you  never  pray  at  all ;  for  no 
man  can  swear  as  you  do,  and  yet  be  in  the  habit  of  praying  to  God." 

As  we  rode  along  he  seemed  thoughtful.  "Coachman,  I  wish  you 
would  pray  now,"  I  said.  "  Why,  what  a  time  to  pray.  Sir,  when  a  man  is 
driving  a  coach!"  "Yet,  my  friend,  God  will  hear  you."  "What  shall  I 
pray  ?"  he  asked,  in  a  low  voice.  "  Pray  these  words  :  '  O  Lord,  grant  me 
thy  Holy  Spirit,  for  Christ's  sake.  Amen.'  He  hesitated,  but  in  a  mo- 
ment he  repeated  them ;  and  then,  at  my  request,  he  said  them  over  a 
second,  and  a  third  time.  The  end  of  the  journey  was  reached,  and  I 
left  him." 

"  Some  months  passed  away,  and  we  met  once  more.  '  Ah,  Sir,'  said 
he,  with  a  smile,  '  the  prayer  you  taught  me,  on  that  coach-box,  was 
answered.  I  saw  myself  a  lost,  and  ruined  sinner ;  but  now,  I  humbly 
hope,  that  through  the  blood  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and  by  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  I  am  a  converted  man.' " 

And  so,  when  we  think  of  the  twelve  apostles,  appointed  by  Jesus  to 
preach  his  gospel,  these  are  the  four  things  for  us  to  remember,  in  con- 
nection with  them,  viz.  ■.—the  men  whom  he  chose  ;  the  loork  they  had  to 
do ;  the  help  given  them  in  doing  that  work ;  and  the  lesson  we  are  taught 
by  this  subject — the  lesson  of  prayer. 

Whatever  we  have  to  do,  let  us  do  it  with  all  our  hearts,  and  do  it  as 
for  God,  and  then  we  shall  be  his  apostles — his  sent  ones.  Let  me  put 
the  application  of  this  subject  in  the  form  of  some  earnest,  practical  lines 
that  I  lately  met  with.  The  lines  only  speak  of  boys,  but  they  apply  just 
as  well  to  girls.     They  are  headed — 


DRIVE    THE    NAIL. 

Drive  the  nail  aright,  boys, 

Hit  it  on  the  head, 
Strike  with  all  your  might,  boys, 

While  the  iron's  red. 


THE  APOSTLES   CHOSEN. 


507 


Lessons  you've  to  learn,  boys, 

Study  with  a  will ; 
They  who  reach  the  top,  boys, 

First   must  climb  the  hill. 


The  dead  child's  soul  is  brought  back. 


Standing  at  the  foot,  boys. 
Gazing  at  the  sky, 

How  can  you  get  up,  boys, 
If  you  never  try  ? 


So8 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


Though  you  stumble   oft,  boys, 
Never  be   downcast ; 

Try  and  try  again,  boys, 
You'll  succeed   at  last 


Ever  persevere,  boys, 

Tho'  your  task  be  hard ; 
Toil  and  happy  cheer,  boys, 

Bring  their  own  reward. 


Never  give  it  up,  boys, 

Always  say  you'll  try ; 

Joy  will  fill  your  cup,  b<iys. 
Flowing  by  and   by. 


Tllli  GREAT  TliAClIER 


\. 


EACHING  was  the  great  business  of  the  h'fe  of 
Christ,  during  the  days  of  his  public  ministry. 
He  was  scut  to  teach,  and  to  preach.  The 
speaker  in  the  book  of  Job  was  thinking  of  this 
Great  Teacher  when  he  asked— "//7/(?  tcachetli 
like  Iiiinf"  Job  xxxvi :  22.  And  it  was  he  who 
was  in  the  Psahiiist's  mind  when  he  spoke  of 
the  "  good,  and  upright  Lord ''  who  would  teach 
sinners,  if  they  were  meek,  how  to  walk  in  his 
ways.  Ps.  XXV :  8-9.  And  he  is  the  Redeemer, 
of  whom  the  prophet  Isaiah  was  telling  when 
he  said — He  would  ''teach  us  to  profit,  and 
would  lead  us  by  the  way  that  ive  should  go." 
And  thus  we  know  how  true  what  Nicodemus 
said  of  him  was  that  "he  was  a  teacher  sentfrotn  God."  John  iii :  2.  Thus 
what  was  said  of  Jesus,  before  he  came  into  our  world,  would  naturally 


5IO  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


lead  us  to  expect  to  find  him  occupied  in  teaching.  And  so  he  was 
occupied,  all  through  the  days  of  his  public  ministry.  St.  Matthew  teilb 
us  that — "Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee,  teacJiing  in  their  synagogues." 
Chap,  iv:  23.  Further  on  in  his  gospel  he  tells  us  again  that  "Jesus  went 
about  all  the  cities,  and  villages,  teaching  in  their  synagogues."  Chap,  ix : 
35.  When  on  his  trial  before  Pilate,  his  enemies  brought  it  as  a  charge 
against  him  that  he  had  been — ''teaching  throughout  all  Jewry."  Luke 
xxiii :  5.  We  read  in  one  place  that — "  the  elders  of  the  people  came 
unto  him  as  he  was  teaching."  Math,  xxi :  23.  Jesus  himself  gave  this 
account  of  his  life  work  to  his  enemies — "  I  sat  dai/y  with  you  teaching 
in  the  temple."  Math,  xxvi :  55.  And  so  we  come  now  to  look  at  the  life 
of  Christ  from  this  point  of  view — as  a  Teacher.  There  never  was  such 
a  Teacher.  We  do  not  wonder  at  the  effect'  of  his  teaching  of  which  we 
read  in  St.  John  vii :  46,  When  the  chief  priests  sent  some  of  their 
officers  to  take  him  prisoner,  and  bring  him  unto  them ;  the  officers 
went,  and  joined  the  crowd  that  was  listening  to  his  preaching.  His 
words'  had  such  a  strange  effect  on  them  that  they  could  not  think  ol 
touching  him.  So  they  went  back  to  their  masters  without  doing  what 
they  had  been  sent  to  do.  "  And  when  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees 
said  unto  them — Why  have  ye  not  brought  him  ?  The  officers  answered, 
Never  man  spake  lilie  this  man."  Jesus  was  indeed — The  Great  Teacher. 
In  this  light  we  are  now  to  look  at  him.  And  as  we  do  this  we  shall  find 
that  there  were  Jive  great  things  about  his  teaching  which  made  him 
different  from  any  other  teacher  the  world  has  ever  known. 

/;/  the  Jirst place  Jesus  may  well  be  called  the  Great  Teacher,  because 
oj  the — Great  Blessings — of  which  he  came  to  tell. 

We  find  some  of  these  spoken  of  at  the  opening  of  his  first  great 
sermon  to  his  disciples,  called  "The  Sermon  on  the  Mount."  This  is  the 
most  wonderful  sermon  that  ever  was  preached.  Jesus  began  it  by  telling 
about  some  of  the  great  blessings  he  had  brought  down  from  heaven  for 
poor  sinful  creatures  such  as  we  are.  The  sermon  begins  in  the  fifth 
chapter  of  St.  Matthew,  and  the  first  twelve  verses  of  the  chapter  are 
occupied  in  speaking  of  these  blessings.  As  soon  as  he  opened  his 
mouth,  and  began  to  speak,  a  stream  of  blessings  flowed  out. 

It  was  a  beautiful  thought,  on  this  subject,  which  a  boy  in  Sunday- 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER. 


511 


school  once  had.  The  teacher  had  been  talking  to  his  class  about  the 
beginning  of  this  sermon  on  the  mount.  He  had  spoken  of  the  sweet- 
ness of  the  words  of  Jesus,  when  "  He  opened  his  mouth  and  taught"  his 
disciples.  "  How  pleasant  it  must  have  been,  my  dear  boys,"  said  he,  "  to 
have  seen  the  blessed  Saviour, 
and  to  have  heard  him  speak !  " 
A  serious-minded  little  fel- 
low in  the  class  said,  "Teacher, 
don't  you  think  that  when  Jesus 
opened  his  mouth,  and  began  to 
speak  to  his  disciples,  it  must 
have  been  like  taking  the  stopper 
out  of  a  scent  bottle  ?"  I  cannot 
tell  whether  this  boy  had  ever 
read  the  words  of  Solomon  or 
not ;  but  he  had  just  the  same 
idea  that  was  in  his  mind  when 
he  said  of  this  "  Great  Teacher," 
"  thy  name  is  as  ointment  poured 
foFtk."  Cant,  i :  3.  We  perceive 
the  fragrance  of  this  ointment 
as  soon  as  Jesus  opens  his  mouth 
and  begins  to  speak.  If  we  had 
been  listening  to  Jesus  when  he 
began  this  sermon,  saying : — 
"  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit ; 
blessed  are  the  meek;  blessed 
are  the  pure  in  heart;  blessed 
are  the  peace-makers  " — and  so 
on  till  he  had  spoken  of  nine 
different  kinds  of  blessing  we 
might  have  thought  that  he  had 

nothing  but  blessings  of  which  to  tell.  It  would  have  seemed  as  if  his 
mind,  and  heart,  and  lips,  and  hands  were  all  so  filled  with  blessings  that 
he  could  do  nothing  else  till  he  had  told  about  these.     And  the  blessings 


The  Great  Teacher. 


512 


THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


spoken  of  here  are  not  all  the  blessings  that  Jesus  brought.  They  are 
only  specimens  of  them.  The  blessings  he  has  obtained  for  us  are 
innumerable.  David  says  of  them,  "  If  I  would  declare  and  speak  of 
them  they  are  more  than  can  be  numbered."  Psalm  xl :  5.  And  these 
blessings  are  not  only  v^ery  numerous,  but  very  great.  Look  at  one  or 
two  of  these  blessings  that  Jesus,  the  Great  Teacher,  brings  to  us.  He 
says,  "  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted."    Jesus 


The  Sermon  on  the  Mount. 


came  to  bring  comfort  to  the  mourners.  Hundreds  of  years  before  Christ 
came  the  prophet  Isaiah  had  said  of  him  that  he  would  come  to  ''comfort 
all  that  nioiimy  Isaiah  Ixi:  2.  And  to  show  how  complete  this  blessing 
would  be  which  he  was  to  bring,  Jesus  said  himself — ''As  one  whom  his 
mother  comforteth — so  will  I  comfort  yon.^'  Isaiah  Ixvi :  13.  A  young 
girl  was  dying.     A  friend  who  came  in  to  see  her  said : 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER. 


513 


"  I  trust  you  have  a  good  hope." 

"No,"  she  answered,  distinctly;  "I  am  not  hoping— I  am  certain. 
My  salvation  was  finished  on  the  cross.  My  soul  is  saved.  Heaven  is 
mine.     I  am  going  to  Jesus." 

What  a  great  blessing  it  is  to  have  comfort  like  that! 

When  Jesus  was  speaking  to  the  woman  of  Samaria,  as  he  sat  by 
Jacob's  w"ll,  he  compared  the  blessing  of  his  grace  to  the  water  of  that 
well.  Pointing  to  the  well,  at  his  side,  he  said:  "Whosoever  drinketh  of 
this  water  will 
thirst  again.  But 
whosoever  drink- 
eth of  the  water 
that  I  shall  give 
him,  shall  ne\er 
thirst ;  but  the 
water  that  I  shall 
give  him,  shall  be 
///  }ii)n,  a  well  of 
luatcr,  springing 
up  7/nto  everlast- 
ing life  y  John  iv: 
13,  14.  This  is 
one  of  the  most 
beautiful  illustra- 
tions of  the  bless- 
ing Jesus  gives, 
that    ever    was 

used.  It  is  a  great  blessing  to  ha\'e  a  well  of  clear,  cold  water  in  our 
garden,  or  near  our  door.  But,  only  think  of  having  a  well  of  water  in 
otir  hearts.  Then,  wherever  we  go,  we  carry  that  M-ell  with  us.  We 
never  have  to  go  awa\^  from  it.  No  one  can  separate  between  us,  and 
the  water  of  this  well.  Other  wells  dry  up,  and  fail.  But  this  is  a  well 
that  never  dries  up,  and  never  fails.  This  well  is  deep,  and  its  water  is 
all  the  time  "springing  up  unto  everlasting  life."  How  happy  they  are  in 
whose  breasts  Jesus  opens  this  well  of  water! 


Do   not  your  alms  before  men. 


514  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Coleridge,  the  Eng-lish  poet,  in  writing  to  a  young  friend,  just 
before  his  death,  said:  "Health  is  a  great  blessing;  wealth,  gained  by 
honest  industry,  is  a  great  blessing ;  it  is  a  great  blessing  to  have  kind, 
faithful,  loving  friends  and  relatives,  bitt,  the  greatest,  and  best  of  at! 
blessings  is  to  be  a  Christian^ 

One  of  the  most  able  and  learned  lawyers  that  England  ever  had 
was  John  Selden.  He  was  so  famous  for  his  learning  and  knowledge, 
that  he  is  always  spoken  of  as  "the  learned  Selden."  On  his  death-bed 
he  said — "  I  have  taken  much  pains  to  know  everything  that  was  worth 
knowing  among  men ;  but  with  all  my  reading,  and  all  my  knowledge, 
nothing  now  remains  with  me  to  comfort  me  at  the  close  of  life,  but  these 
precious  words  of  St.  Paul :  '  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all 
acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners;'  to  this 
I  cling.  In  this  I  rest.  This  gives  me  peace,  and  comfort,  and  enables 
me  to  die  happy." 

William  Wilberforce  was  another  of  the  great  and  good  men  who 
have  been  a  blessing  and  an  honor  to  England.  When  he  was  on  his 
death-bed,  he  said  to  a  dear  friend: 

"  Come,  let  us  talk  of  heaven.  Do  not  weep  for  me.  I  am  very 
happy.  But  I  never  knew  what  happiness  was  till  I  found  Christ  as  my 
Saviour.  Read  the  Bible.  Let  no  other  book  take  its  place.  Through 
all  my  trials  and  perplexities,  it  has  been  my  comfort.  And  now  it  com- 
forts me,  and  makes  me  happy." 

Here  we  see  "  this  well  of  water  springing  up  unto  everlasting  life." 
And  Jesus,  who  came  to  tell  us  of  this  water,  and  to  open  up  this  well  in 
our  breasts,  may  well  be  called,  "  the  Great  Teacher,"  because  of  the  great 
blessings — of  which  he  tells. 

In  the  second  place  yesus  may  be  called  "  the  Great  Teacher','  because 
of  the — Grp:at  Simplicity — of  his  teachings. 

I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  we  can  understand  every  thing  that  Jesus 
taught.  This  is  not  so.  He  had  some  things  to  speak  about  that  are  not 
simple.  He  said  to  his  disciples,  "  I  have  yet  many  tilings  to  say  unto  yon, 
but  ye  cannot  bear  them  now!'  John  xvi:  12.  This  means  that  there  are 
some  things  about  God,  and  heaven,  of  which  he  wished  to  tell  them,  but 
they  were  too  hard  for  them  to  understand,  although  they  were  full-grown 


THE   GREAT   TEACHER. 


515 


men.  And  so  he  did  not  tell  them  of  these  things.  But  even  among  the 
things  that  Jesus  did  tell  about,  there  are  some  which  the  wisest,  and 
most  learned  men  in  the  world  have  never  been  able  to  understand,  or 
explain.  Some  one  has  compared  the  Bible  to  a  river,  in  which  there 
are  some  places  deep  enough  for  an  elephant,  or  a  giant  to  swim  in  ; 
and  other  places 


w 


here    the  water 


is  shallow  enough 
for  a  child  to  wade 
in.  And  it  is  just 
so  with  the  teach- 
ings of  Jesus. 
Some  of.  the  most 
important  lessons 
he  taught  are  so 
plain,  and  simple 
that  very  young 
people  can  under- 
stand them. 

We  have  a 
good  illustration 
of  this  in  that 
sweet  invitation 
which  Jesus  gave, 
when  he  said, — 
"  Ccviie  iiiifo  me, 
all  ye  that  labor, 
and  are  heavy  la- 
den ;  and  I  will 
give   you    rest.'' 

Alath.  xi :  28.  Very  young  people  know  what  it  is  to  feel  tired,  and 
weary,  from  walking,  or  working  too  much,  or  from  carrying  a  heavy 
burden.  And,  when  they  are  too  tired  to  do  anything  else,  they  know 
what  it  is  to  go  to  their  dear  mother,  and  throw  themselves  into  her  arms, 
and  find  rest  there.     And,  in  just  the  same  way,  Jesus  invites  us  to  come 


"^AA/?. 


Jesus  and  the  woman  of  Samaria. 


51 6  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


to  him  when  we  are  tired,  or  troubled,  that  our  souls  may  find  rest  in  him. 
We  come  to  Jesus,  when  we  pray  to  him ;  when  we  tell  him  all  about  our 
troubles ;  when  we  ask  him  to  help  us ;  and  when  we  trust  in  his  promises. 

"  Was  there  ever  gentlest  shepherd 
Half  so  gentle,  half  so  sweet. 
As  the  Saviour,  who  would  have  us 
Come  and  gather  round  his  feet  ? 

There's  a  wideness  in  God's  mercy, 

Like  the  wideness  of  the  sea; 
There's  a  kindness  in  Tiis  justice 

Which  is  more  than  liberty. 

There  is  no  place  where  earth's  sorrows 

Are  more  felt  tlian  up  in  heaven ; 
There  is  no  place  where  earth's  failings 

Have  such  kindly  judgments  given. 

There  is  plentiful  redemption 

In  the  blood  that  has  been  shed ; 
There  is  joy  for  all  the  members 

In  the  sorrows  of  the  head. 

If  our  love  were  but  more  simple. 

We  should  take  him  at  his  word ; 
And  our  lives  would  all  be  sunshine. 

In  the  sweetness  of  our  Lord." 

The  prophet  Isaiah  foretold  that  when  Jesus  came,  he  would  teach 
his  doctrines  to  children  just  weaned.  Chapter  xxviii:  9.  This  shows 
us  that  his  teaching  was  to  be  marked  by  great  plainness  and  simplicity. 
And  this  was  just  the  way  in  which  he  did  teach  when  he  uttered  those 
loving  words: — ''Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  jne,  and  forbid  them 
not ;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven!'  Markx:  14.  None  of  the 
other  famous  teachers,  known  to  the  world,  ever  took  such  interest  in 
children  as  Jesus  did.  And  none  of  them  ever  taught  with  such  great 
simplicity.  What  multitudes  of  young  people  have  been  led  to  love  and 
serve  Jesus,  by  thinking  of  the  sweet  words  he  spoke  about  children  ! 


Christ  Blessing  Little  Children. 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER.  519 

The  Child's  Gospel. — A  little  girl  sat  still  in  church  listening  to 
the  minister.  She  could  not  understand  what  he  was  saying  till  he 
quoted  these  words  of  Jesus  about  the  children.  But  she  understood 
them.  She  felt  that  they  were  words  spoken  for  her.  They  made  her  feel 
very  happy.  And  when  she  went  home  she  threw  her  arms  around  her 
mother's  neck,  who  had  been  kept  at  home  by  sickness,  and  said,  "O, 
mother,  I  have  heard  the  child' s  gospel  to-day." 

"  Ifs  For  Me. — Little  Carrie  was  a  heathen  child,  about  ten  years 
old.  After  she  had  been  going  to  the  Mission  School  for  some  time,  her 
teacher  noticed,  one  day,  that  she  looked  sad. 

"Carrie,  my  dear,"  she  said,  "why  do  you  look  so  sad  to-day?" 

"Because  I  am  thinking." 

"  And  what  are  you  thinking  about  ?" 

"  O,  teacher,  I  don't  know  whether  Jesus  loves  me,  or  not." 

"  Carrie,  what  did  Jesus  say  about  little  children  coming  to  him  when 
he  was  on  earth  ?" 

In  a  moment  the  sweet  words  she  had  learned  in  the  school,  were 
on  her  lips — "  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  &c." 

"  Well,  Carrie,  for  whom  did  Jesus  speak  these  words  ?"  At  once 
she  clapped  her  hands  and  exclaimed :  "  It's  not  for  you,  teacher,  is  it  ? 
for  you  are  not  a  child.     No  :  it's  for  me  !  it's  for  me !" 

And  so  this  dear  child  was  drawn  to  Jesus  by  the  power  of  his  love. 
And  thus,  through  all  the  hundreds  of  years  that  have  passed  away  since 
"Jesus  was  here  among  men,"  these  same  simple  words  have  been  draw- 
ing the  little  ones  to  him. 

And  so,  because  of  the  great  simplicity  which  marked  his  teaching, 
Jesus  may  truly  be  called — the  Great  Teacher. 

But  ill  the  third  place  there  was — Great  Tenderness — in  yesus, 
and  this  was  another  thing  that  helped  to  make  him  the  Great  Teacher. 

It  was  this  great  tenderness  that  led  him,  when  he  came  to  be  our 
Teacher,  and  Saviour,  to  take  our  nature  upon  him  and  so  become  like 
us.  He  might  have  come  into  our  world  in  the  form  of  a  mighty  angel, 
with  his  face  shining  like  the  sun,  as  he  appeared  when  the  disciples  saw 
him  on  the  Mount  of  Transfiguration.  But  then  we  should  have  been 
afraid  of  him.     He  would  not  have  known  how  we  feel,  and  could  not 


520 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRISl. 


have  felt  for  us.  But  instead  of  this,  his  tenderness  led  him  to  take  our 
nature  upon  him,  that  he  might  be  able  to  put  himself  in  our  place,  and 
so  to  understand  just  how  we  feel,  and  what  we  need  to  help  and  comfort 
us.  This  is  what  the  apostle  means  in  Hebrews  ii:  14,  when  he  says — 
"  Forasmuch  as  the  children  were  partakers  of  flesh  and  blood,  he  also 
himself  likewise,  took  part  of  the  same."  He  did  this  on  purpose  that  he 
might  know,  by  his  own  experience,  how  we  are  tried,  and  tempted  ;  and 
so  be  able  to  sympathize  with  us,  and  help  us  in  all  our  trials. 

Here  is  a  little  story,  very  simple,  and  homely;  but  yet,  one  that 
illustrates  very  well  the  point  of  which  we  are  speaking.  It  is  a  story 
about 


Curing  the  Ueaf  Man. 


A  Lost  Horse  Found. — A  valuable  horse  was  lost,  belonging  to  a 
farmer  in  New  England.  A  number  of  his  neighbors  turned  out  to  try 
and  find  the  horse.  They  searched  all  through  the  woods  and  fields  of 
the  surrounding  country,  but  in  vain.  None  of  them  could  find  the 
horse.  At  last  a  poor,  weak-minded  fellow,  who  was  known  in  that 
neighborhood  as  "  simple  Sam,"  started  to  hunt  the  horse.  After  awhile 
he  came  back,  bringing  the  stray  horse  with  him.  The  owner  of  the  horse 
was  delighted  to  see  him.  He  stroked  and  patted  him,  and  then,  turning 
to  the  simple-minded  man  who  had  found  him,  he  said : 

"  Well,  Sam,  how  came  you  to  find  the  horse,  when  no  one  else  could 
doit?" 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER. 


521 


"  VVal,  you  see,"  said  Sam,  "  I  just  quired  whar  the  horse  was  seen 
last;  and  then  I  went  thar,  and  sat  on  a  rock;  and  just  axed  mysel',  if  I 
was  a  horse,  whar  would  I  go,  and  what  would  I  do  ?  And  then  I  went, 
and  found  him."  Now,  when  Sam,  in  the  simplicity  of  his  feeble  mind, 
tried  to  put  himself,  as  far  as  he  could,  in  the  horse's  place,  this  helped 
him  to  find  the  lost  horse,  and  bring  him  back  to  his  owner  again.  And 
so,  to  pass  from  a  very  little  thing  to  a  very  great  one,  when  Jesus  came 
down  from  hea- 
ven to  seek  and  =^^^^^1^^^  ^s?  ''■^  ~^''  7^ 
to  save  sinners 
that  were  lost, 
this  is  just  the 
\\a\'  in  which 
he  acted.  He 
put  himself  in 
our  place  as 
sinners.  As  the 
apostle  Paul 
says:  "he  who 
knew  no  sin, 
was  made  sin 
for  us,"  that  he 
might  save  us 
from  the  dread- 
ful consequen- 
ces of  our  sins 

And  we 
see  the  tender- 
ness  of  Jesus, 

not  only  in  taking  our  nature  upon  him,  and  becoming  man,  but  in  what 
he  did,  when  he  lived  in  this  world  as  a  man.  "  He  went  about  doing 
goody  It  was  his  great  tenderness  that  led  him  to  do  this.  Suppose 
that  you  and  I  could  have  walked  about  with  Jesus,  when  he  was  on 
earth,  as  the  apostles  did.  Just  think  for  a  moment  what  we  should 
have    seen.     We   should   have   seen  him   meeting  with  blind   men.  and 


Curing  the  Leper. 


522  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


opening  their  eyes  that  they  might  see.  We  should  have  seen  him  meet- 
ing with  deaf  men,  and  unstopping  their  ears  that  they  might  hear.  We 
should  have  seen  him  meeting  sick  people  who  were  taken  with  divers 
diseases  and  torments,  and  healing  them.  We  should  have  seen  him 
raising  the  dead;  and  casting  out  devils;  and  speaking  words  of  comfort 
and  encouragement  to  those  who  were  sad,  and  sorrowful.  If  we  could 
have  looked  into  his  blessed  face,  we  should  have  seen  tenderness  there, 
beaming  from  his  eyes,  and  speaking  from  every  line  of  his  countenance. 
If  we  could  have  heard  his  voice  we  should  have  found  tenderness  thrill- 
ing in  every  tone  of  it.  If  we  could  have  listened  to  his  teaching  we 
should  have  found  tenderness  running  through  all  that  he  said.  Just 
take  one  of  his  many  parables,  as  a  sample  of  his  way  of  teaching — the 
parable  of  the  lost  sheep — and  see  how  full  of  tenderness  it  is.  The  sweet 
lines  of  the  hymn,  about  the  shepherd  seeking  his  lost  sheep,  that  most 
of  us  love  to  sing,  bring  out  the  tenderness  of  Jesus  here  very  touchingly. 

There  were  ninety  and  nine  that  safely  lay 

In  the  shelter  of  the  fold, 
But  one  was  out  on  the   hills  away, 

Far  off  from  the  gates  of  gold — 
Away  on  the  mountains,  wild  and  bare, 
Away  from  the  tender  shepherd's  care. 

"  Lord,  Thou  hast  here  Thy  ninety  and  nine ; 

Are  they  not  enough  for  Thee  ?  " 
But  the  Shepherd  made  answer :  "  One  of  mine 

Has  wandered  away  from  me  ; 
And,  although  the  road  be  rough  and  steep, 
I  go  to  the  desert  to  find  my  sheep. 

But  none  of  the   ransomed  ever  knew 

How  deep  were  the  waters  crossed ; 
Nor  how  dark  was  the  night  that  the  Lord  passed  through, 

Ere  he  found  his  sheep  that  was  lost. 
Out  in  the  desert  he  heard  its  cry — 
Sick  and  helpless,  and  ready  to  die. 


"Lord,  whence  are  those  blood-drops  all  the  way 
That  mark  out  the  mountain's  track  ?  " 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER. 


523 


They  were  shed  for  one  who  had  gone  astray. 
Ere  the  Shepherd  could  bring  him  back. 
"  Lord,  why  are  Thy  hands  so  rent  and  torn  ?  " 
They  are  pierced,  to-night,  by  many  a  thorn. 

But  all  through  the  mountains,  thunder-riven. 

And  up  from  the   rocky  steep. 
There  rose  a  cry  to  the  gates  of  heaven, 

"  Rejoice !  I  have  found  my  sheep !  " 

And  the  angels  echoed  around  the  throne, 

"  Rejoice,  for  the  Lord  brings  back   his  own." 


And  all  that 
we  know  of  Je- 
sus as  "  the  good 
Shepherd,"  de- 
monstrates his 
great  tenderness 
for  his  sheep. 

But  perhaps 
there  was  no  act 
in  all  the  life  of 
our  blessed  Re- 
deemer,  that 
showed  his  ten- 
derness more 
than  taking  the 
little  children  in 
his  arms,  and 
putting  his  hands  upon  them,  and  blessing  them. 

To  think  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  made  this  world,  and  all  worlds, 
and  whom  all  the  angels  of  heaven  worship,  showing  so  much  interest  in 
the  little  ones ;  this  proves  how  full  of  tenderness  his  heart  was. 

/  Like  Your  Jesus. — An  English  lady  who  had  spent  six  months  in 
Syria,  writes :  "  Going  through  the  places  where  the  Mohammedans  live, 
you  continually  hear  the  girls  singing  our  beautiful  hymns  in  Arabic. 
The  attractive  power  of  Christ's  love  is  felt  even  by  the  little  ones,  as  we 


Casting  out  Uevils. 


524 


THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


learned  from  a  dear  Moslem  child,  who,  when  she  repeated  the  text, 
'  Suffer  the  little  children,'  said,  '  I  like  your  Jesus,  because  he  loved  little 
children.     Our  Mohammed  did  not  love  little  children.'  " 

And  if  we  all  try  to  imitate  the  tenderness  of  Jesus,  then,  though  we 
may  have  no  money  to  give,  and  no  great  thing  to  do,  yet  by  being 
tender,  and  gentle,  and  loving,  as  Jesus  was,  we  shall  be  able  to  do  good 
wherever  we  are. 

Doing  good  by  Sympathy. — A  Christian  mother  used  to  ask  her 
children  every  night,  if  they  had  done  any  good  during  the  day.  One 
night,  in  answer  to  this  question,  her  little  daughter  said:  "At  school  this 

morning  I  found   little  Annie  G , 

who  had  been  absent  for  some  time, 
crying  very  hard.  I  asked  her  what 
was  the  matter?  Then  she  cried 
more,  so  that  I  could  not  help  putting 
my  head  on  her  neck,  and  crying  with 
her.  Her  sobs  grew*  less,  and  pre- 
sently she  told  me  of  her  little  baby 
brother,  whom  she  loved  so  much; 
how  sick  he  had  been;  and  how  much 
pain  he  had  suftered,  till  he  died  and 
was  buried.  Then  she  hid  her  face 
in  her  book,  and  cried,  as  if  her  heart 
would  break.  I  could  not  help  putting 
my  face  on  the  other  page  of  the 
book,  and  crying,  too,  as  hard  as  she  did.  After  awhile  she  kissed  me, 
and  told  me  I  had  done  her  good.  But,  mother,  I  don't  know  how  I 
did  her  good;y^r  /  only  cried  with  her/" 

Now  this  little  girl  was  showing  the  tenderness  of  Jesus,  the  Great 
Teacher.  Nothing  in  the  world  could  have  done  that  poor  sorrowing 
child  so  much  good  as  to  have  some  one  cry  with  her.  Sometimes  tears 
of  tenderness  are  worth  more  than  diamonds.  And  this  is  why  the  Bible 
tells  us  to  "weep  with  them  that  weep."  Rom.  xii :  15.  Jesus  did  this  in 
the  tenderness  of  his  loving  heart.  And  this  was  one  of  the  things  that 
made  him  the  Great  Teacher. 


The  Head  of  Christ. 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER. 


525 


But  then  there  was — Great  Kno\vledge — ///  yesus,  and  this  was 
another  thing  tliat  made  hint  great  as  a   Teacher. 

If  we  wish  to  be  good  teachers,  we  must  study,  and  try  to  under- 


The  Lost  Sheep. 


Stand  the  things  we  expect  to  teach.  If  a  young  man  wishes  to  be  a 
minister,  he  must  go  through  college ;  and  then  spend  three  years  in  the 
Divinity  School,  so  that  he  may  understand  the  great  truths  of  the  Bible, 


526  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

which  he  is  to  teach  the  people  who  hear  him.  But  Jesus  never  went  to 
college,  or  to  a  divinity  school.  And  yet  he  had  greater  knowledge  about 
all  the  things  of  which  he  spoke  than  any  other  teacher  ever  had.  We 
are  told  in  the  book  of  Job  that  "  He  is  perfect  in  knowledge."  Job  xxxvi: 
5.  And  the  apostle  Paul  tells  us  that  "  in  him  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of 
wisdom  and  knowledge'.'  Col.  ii:  3.  This  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  any 
man,  or  any  angel.  If  we  could  take  all  the  knowledge  of  all  the  best 
teachers  who  ever  lived,  and  give  it  to  one  person,  it  would  be  as  nothing 
compared  to  the  knowledge  which  Jesus,  "the  Great  Teacher"  had.  He 
knew  all  about  heaven;  for  that  had  always  been  his  home  before  he  came 
into  our  world.  He  knew  all  about  God;  for,  he  was  "in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father,"  John  i:  18;  and,  as  he  tells  us  himself,  had  shared  his  glory 
with  him,  "before  the  world  was."  John  xvii;  5.  He  knew  all  about  the 
world  we  live  in,  for  he  made  it.  John  i:  10.  He  knew  all  about  all 
other  worlds,  for  he  made  them,  too.  John  1:3;  Heb.  1:  2.  He  knew 
all  about  his  disciples,  and  every  body  else  in  the  world,  for  he  made  them 
all.  He  saw  all  they  did;  he  heard  all  they  said;  he  knew  all  they 
thought,  or  felt.  Wise  and  learned  men  have  been  studying,  and  finding 
out  things  for  hundreds  of  years,  about  geography  and  natural  history — 
and  astronomy ; — about  light,  and  heat,  and  electricity — and  steam — and 
the  telegraph,  and  many  other  things.  Jesus  knew  all  about  these  things 
when  he  was  on  earth.  He  could  have  told  about  them,  if  he  had  seen 
fit  to  do  so.  But  he  only  told  us  what  it  is  best  for  us  to  know,  in  order 
that  we  might  be  saved;  and  kept  back  all  the  rest.  The  things  that  Jesus 
did  teach  us,  when  he  was  here  on  earth,  were  wonderful ;  but  it  is  hardly 
less  wonderful  to  think  of  the  things  that  he  might  have  taught  us,  and 
yet  did  not.  When  we  think  of  the  great  knowledge  of  Jesus,  as  a 
Teacher,  we  are  not  surprised  that  some  of  those  who  heard  him 
"wondered  at  the  gracious  words"  he  spake;  or  that  others  asked  the 
question:  "Whence  hath  this  man  this  knowledge,  having  never 
learned  ?  " 

Some  one  has  written  these  sweet  lines  about  Christ  as — The  Great 
Teacher : 

"  From  everything  our  Saviour  saw, 
Lessons  of  wisdom  he  could  draw; 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER.  527 


The  clouds,  the  colors  in  the  sky; 

The  gentle  breeze  that  whispers  by ; 

The  fields  all  white  with  waving  corn ; 

The  lilies  that  the  vale  adorn ; 

The  reed  that  trembles  in  the  wind  ; 

The  tree,  where  none  its  fruit  could  find  ; 

The  sliding  sand,  the  flinty  rock. 

That  bears  unmoved  the  tempest's  shock ; 

The  thorns  that  on  the  earth  abound  ; 

The  tender  grass  that  clothes  the  ground ; 

The  little  birds  that  fly  in  air  ; 

The  sheep  that  need  the  shepherd's  care  ; 

The  pearls  that  deep  in  ocean  lie  ; 

The  gold  that  charms  the  miser's  ej'e ; 

The  fi-uitful  and  the  thorny  ground  ; 

The  piece  of  silver  lost  and  found  ; 

The  reaper,  with  his  sheaves  returning ; 

The  gathered  tares  prepared  for  burning ; 

The  wandering  sheep  brought  back  with  joy; 

The  father's  welcome  for  his  boy ; 

The  wedding-feast,  prepared  in  state  ; 

The  foolish  virgins'  cr_\-,  '  too  late  !" — 

Ail  from  his  lips  some  truth  proclaim, 

Or  learn  to  tell  their  Maker's  name." 

But  the  difference  between  Jesus,  the  Great  Teacher,  and  all  other 
teachers  is  seen,  not  only  in  the  greater  knowledge  he  has  of  the  things 
that  he  teaches,  but  in  this  also,  that  he  knows  how  to  make  us  under- 
stand the  lessons  he  teaches.  Here  is  an  incident  that  illustrates  how 
well  Jesus  can  do  this.     We  may  call  it.  The  JVcIl  Instructed  Boy. 

A  minister  of  the  gospel  was  travelling  through  the  wildest  part  of 
Ireland.  There  he  met  a  shepherd's  boy,  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve 
years  old.  He  was  poorly  clad,  with  no  covering  on  his  head,  and  no 
shoes  or  stockings  on  his  feet;  but  he  looked  bright  and  happy.  He 
had  a  New  Testament  in  his  hand.  "  Can  you  read,  my  boy  ?"  asked  the 
minister. 

"  To  be  sure  I  can." 

"And  do  you  understand  M'hat  you  read  ?" 

"A  little." 


528 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


"  Please  turn  to  the  third  chapter  of  St.  John,  and  read  us  a  little," 
said  the  minister.  The  boy  found  the  place  directly,  and  in  a  clear,  dis- 
tinct voice,  began : — 

"  There  was  a  man  of  the  Pharisees  named  Nicodemus,  a  ruler  of  the 
Jews;  the  same  came  to  Jesus  by  night,  and  said  unto  him,  Rabbi." 

"What  does  Rabbi  mean?" 

"It  means  a  master."  Right;  go  on.  "We  know  thou  art  a  teacher 
come  from  God ;  for  no  man  can  do  these  miracles  that  thou  doest,  except 
God  be  with  him." 


Nicodemus  came  to  Jesus. 


"What  is  a  mmrc/ef" 

"  It  is  a  greaf  wonder.     'Jesus  answered   and   said   unto   him,  verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  thee.' " 

"What  does  verily  mean  ?" 

"It  means  'indeed.'     'Except  a  man  be  born  again." 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?  " 


THE   GREAT   TEACHER. 


529 


"  It  means  a  great  change,  a  change  of  heart." 

"  Except  a  man  be  born  agaui  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God." 

"And  what  is  that  kingdom?" 

He  paused  a  moment,  and  with  a  very  serious,  thoughtful  look, 
placing  his  hand  on  his  bosom,  he  said,  "It  is  soiucthiiig  here;''  and  then, 
raising  his  eyes  to  heaven,  added,  ''  and  soiiietJiiiig  up  yonderr  This  poor 
boy  had  been  taking  lessons  from  "  the  Great  Teacher,"  and  he  had 
taught  him  some  of  the  most  important  things  that  we  can  ever  learn. 
Jesus  may  well  be  called  "  the  Great  Teacher,"  because  of  his  great 
knowledge. 

But  there  is  one  other 
tiling  that  yesns  has, 
which-  helps  to  make  Jiim 
"the  Great  Teacher,''  and 
tliat  is — Great  Power. 

Other  teachers  can 
tell  us  ^^•hat  we  ought  to 
learn,  and  to  do,  yet  they 
have  no  power  to  help 
us  learn,  or  do  what  they 
teach.  But  Jesus  has 
this  power.  Let  us  take 
a  single  illustration  from 
many  of  the  same. kind 
that   occurred    while    he 

was  on  earth.  One  day  he  was  going  about  teaching  in  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem.  As  he  went  on,  he  passed  by  the  office  of  a  man  who  was 
gathering  taxes,  for  the  Roman  government.  The  persons  who  did  this 
were  called  publicans.  This  man,  sitting  in  his  office,  was  named 
Matthew.  He  was  busily  engaged  in  receiving  the  taxes  of  the  people. 
It  was  a  very  profitable  business.  The  men  engaged  in  it,  generall)' 
made  a  great  deal  of  money.  Jesus  stopped  before  the  window,  or  door 
of  this  office.  He  beckoned  to  Matthew,  and  simply  spoke  these  two 
words: — "Follow  me." 

Now,  if  any  other  teacher  had  spoken  these  words  to  Matthew,  and 


He  said  to  Matthew,  "  Follow  me." 


536 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


had  tried  to  make  him  quit  his  business,  and  engage  in  something  else, 
he  would  have  said :  "No;  I  can't  leave  my  office.  This  is  all  the  means 
I  have  of  getting  a  living.  The  business  pays  well,  and  I  am  not  willing 
to  give  it  up."  But  when  Jesus  spoke  to  him,  he  did,  at  once,  what  he 
was  told  to  do.  We  read  that  "  He  left  all,  rose  up,  and  followed  him." 
Math,  ix:  9;  Luke  v:  28.  He  became  one  of  the  twelve  apostles,  and 
wrote  the  gospel  which  bears  his  name.  But  it  was  the  great  power 
which  Jesus  has  over  the  hearts  of  men,  that  made  Matthew  willing  to  do, 
at  once,  what  he  was  told  to  do. 

And  the  power  which  Jesus  exercised  over  Matthew,  in  this  case,  he 
still  has,  and  still  uses.  And  when  he  is  pleased  to  use  this  power  the 
very  worst  people  feel  it,  and  are  made  good  by  it.  And  Jesus,  "  the 
Great  Teacher,"  uses  this  power  sometimes  in  connection  with  very  simple 
things.     Here  is  an  illustration.     We  may  call  it — ■ 

Saved  by  a  Rose. — Some  time  ago,  a  Christian  gentleman  was  in  the 
habit  of  visiting  one  of  our  prisons.  It  occurred  to  him,  one  day,  that  it 
would  be  a  good  thing  to  have  a  flowering  plant  in  the  little  yard  con- 
nected with  each  cell.  He  got  permission  from  the  officers  of  the  prison 
to  do  so.  He  had  a  bracket  fastened  to  the  wall,  in  each  yard,  and  a 
flower  pot,  with  a  plant  in  it,  placed  on  each  bracket.  One  of  these 
prisoners  was  worse  than  all  the  rest.  He  was  the  most  hardened  man 
that  had  ever  been  in  that  prison.  His  temper  was  so  violent,  and 
obstinate,  that  no  one  could  manage  him.  The  keeper  of  the  prison 
was  afraid  of  him,  and  never  liked  to  go  near  him.  He  was  such  a  dis- 
agreeable-looking man  that  the  name  given  to  him  in  the  prison  was 
"  Ugly  Greg."  A  little  rose  bush  was  put  on  the  bracket  in  Ugly  Greg's 
yard,  and  the  effect  produced  by  it  is  told  in  these  simple  lines,  which 
some  one  has  written  about  it. 

"  Ugly  Greg  was  the  prisoner's  name, 
Ugly  in  face,  and  in  nature  the   same; 
Stubborn,  sullen,  and  beetle-browed, 
The  hardest  case  in  a  hardened  crowd. 
The  sin-set  lines  in  his  face  were  bent 
Neither  by  kindness  nor  punishment ; 
He  hadn't  a  friend  in  the  prison  there, 
And  he  grew  more  ugly,  and  didn't  care. 


THE   GREAT  TEACHER. 


But  some  one — blessings  on  his  name ! 

Had  caused  to  be  placed  in  that  house  of  shame, 

To  relieve  the  blank  of  the  white-washed  wall 

Flower  pot  brackets,  with  plants  on  them  all. 

Though  it  seemed  but  a  useless  thing  to  do, 

Ugly  Greg's  cell  had  a  flower  pot,  too, 

And  as  he  came  back  at  the  work-day's  close, 

He  paused,  astonished,  before  a  rose. 

'  He  will  smash  it  in  pieces,'  the  keeper  said, 
But  the  lines  on  his  face  grew  soft  instead. 
Next  morning  he  watered  his  plant  with  care, 
And  went  to  his  work  with  a  cheerful  air; 
And,  day  by  day,  as  the  rose-bush  grew. 
Ugly  Greg  began  changing,  too. 

The  soft,  green  leaves   unfolded  their  tips, 

And  the  foul  word   died  on  the  prisoner's   lips; 

He  talked  to  the  plant,  when  all  alone, 

As  he  would  to  a  friend,  in  a  gentle  tone; 

And,  day  by  day,  and  week  by  week, 

As  the  rose  grew  taller,  so  Greg  grew  meek. 

But,  at  last  they  took  him  away  to  lie 

On  a  hospital  bed,  for  they  knew  he  must  die, 

They  placed  the  rose  in  the  sunny  light, 

Where  Greg  might  watch  it,  from  mom  till  night. 

And  the  green  buds  grew,  from  day  to  day. 

As  the  sick  man  faded  fast  away. 

The  lines  which  sin  and  pain  had  traced. 

Seemed  by  the  shadowing  plant  effaced. 

Till,  came  at  last,  the  joyful  hour. 

When  they  knew  that  the  bud  must  burst  its  flower. 

Greg  slept,  but  still  one  hand  caressed 

The  plant ;  the  other  his  pale   cheek  pressed. 

The  perfumed  crimson  shed  a   glow 

On  the  old  man's  hair,  as  white  as  snow; 

The  nurse  came  softly — 'Look,  Greg!'  she  said. 

Ay,  the  rose  had  bloomed,  but  the  man  was  dead." 


'Si-i 


THE  LIFE   OF  yESUS   CHRIST. 


And  the  meanino;  of  all  this  is,  not  that  the  rose  itself  saved  this 
hardened  sinner.  No;  but  it  led  him  to  think  of  the  lessons  of  his 
childhood,  when  he  had  been  taught  about  Jesus,  "  the  Rose  of  Sharon." 

It  led  him  to  think  about  his  sins. 
It  led  him  to  repent  of  them ;  to 
pray  to  Jesus ;  to  exercise  faith  in 
him ;  and  in  f/iis  ivay  he  became  a 
changed  man,  and  was  saved.  And 
so,  though  we  speak  of  him  as — "  a 
man  saved  by  a  rose;"  yet  it  was 
the  power  of  Jesus,  "the  Great 
Teacher,"  exercised  through  that 
rose,  which  led  to  this  blessed 
change,  and  saved  Greg's  soul  from 
death. 

And  thus  we  have  spoken  of 
five  things  which  help  to  make  up 
the  greatness  of  Jesus  as  a  Teacher. 
These  are — -The  Great  Blessings — ■ 
The  Great  Simplicity- — -The  Great 
Tenderness — The  Great  Knowledge 
— and  the  Great  Power  connected 
with  his  teachings.  Let  us  take ' 
him  for  our  Teacher.  Let  us  seek 
the  grace  that  will  enable  us  to 
learn  of  him,  and  then  we  shall  find  rest  for  our  souls ! 


The  Rose  of  Sharon. 


THE   PARABLES    OF   OUM   ILORjD, 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  PARABLES. 


E  have  spoken  of  our  Saviour  as  "  The  Great 
Teacher ; "  and  tried  to  point  out  some  of 
the  things  in  his  teaching"  which  helped  to 
make  him  great.  And  now,  it  may  be  well 
to  speak  a  little  of  the  illustrations  which  he 
made  use  of  as  a  Teacher.  These  are  called 
— parables.  Our  Saviour's  parables  were 
illustrations.  This  is  what  is  meant  by  the 
Greek  word  from  which  we  get  the  word 
parable.  It  means  something  set  down  by 
the  side  of  another.  When  we  teach  a ' 
lesson  we  are  setting  something  before  the 
minds  of  our  scholars.  But,  suppose  it  is  a 
hard  lesson,  and  they  do  not  understand  it. 
Then  we  use  an  illustration.  This  is  something  set  down  beside  the 
lesson  to  make  it  plain.     Then  this,  whatever  it  be,  is  a  parable. 

At  the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  our  Saviour  did  not  make  much 

533 


534 


THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


use  of  parables.  But,  after  he  had  been  preaching  for  some  time,  he 
made  a  change  in  his  way  of  teaching,  in  this  respect.  He  began. to  use 
parables  very  freely.  His  disciples  were  surprised  at  this.  On  one  oc- 
casion, after  he  had  used  the  parable  of  the  Sower,  they  came  to  their 
Master,  and  asked  him  why  he  always  spake  to  the  people  now  in  para- 
bles? We  have  our  Saviour's  answer  to  this  question  in  St.  Matth.  xiii : 
11-18.  And  it  is  a  remarkable  answer.  The  meaning  of  it  is  that  he 
used  parables  for  two  reasons :  one  was  to  help  those  who  really  wished 
to  learn  from  him,  to  understand  what  he  was  teaching.  The  other  was 
that  those  who  were  not  willing  to  be  taught,  might  listen  to  him  without 
understanding  what  he  was  saying.  These  people  had  heard  him  when 
he  was  teaching  without  parables.  But,  instead  of  thanking  him  for 
coming  to  teach  them,  and  of  being  willing  to  do  what  he  wanted  them 
to  do,  they  found  fault  with  his  teaching,  and  would  not  mind  what  he 
said. 

Now,  there  is  a  great  difference  between  the  way  in  which  we  are  to 
learn  what  the  Bible  teaches  us  about  God  and  heaven ;  and  the  way  in 
which  we  learn  other  things.  If  we  want  to  learn  what  the  Bible  teaches 
us  we  must  be  careful  that  we  are  having  right  feelings  in  our  hearts ;  but 
if  we  want  to  learn  other  things  it  does  not  matter  so  mucli  what  our 
feelings  are.  For  instance,  suppose  you  have  a  lesson  to  learn  in  geog- 
raphy; no  matter  how  you  are  feeling,  whether  you  are  proud,  or  humble; 
whether  you  are  cross,  or  gentle;  yet  if  you  only  stud)'  hard  enough,  and 
long  enough,  you  can  learn  that  lesson.  But,  if  you  want  to  learn  one  of 
the  lessons  that  Jesus  teaches,  no  matter  how  hard,  or  how  long  you  study 
it,  yet  while  you  are  giving  way  to  proud,  or  angry  feelings  in  your  heart, 
you  can  never  learn  that  lesson.  And  the  reason  is  that  we  cannot  learn 
these  lessons  unless  we  have  the  special  help  of  Jesus,  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 
But  this  help  can  never  be  had  while  we  give  way  to  wrong  feelings  in 
our  hearts.  In  learning  geography,  and  other  such  lessons,  we  do  not 
need  the  special  \i&\'^  of  God.  We  can  learn  them  ourselves,  if  we  onl) 
try.  But  we  cannot  learn  the  lessons  that  Jesus  teaches  in  this  way.  This 
is  what  the  Psalmist  means  when  he  says: — "The  meek  will  he  teach  his 
way."  Ps.  XXV :  9.  And  this  was  what  our  Saviour  meant  when  he  said  : 
"  If  any  man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall  know T    St.  John  vii :   17.    We  must 


CHRIST  TEAJZHING  BY  PARABLES.  535 

be  willing  to  be  taught; — and  willing  to  obey;  if  we  wish  to  understand 
what  Jesus,  "  The  Great  Teacher,"  has  to  tell  us. 

Some  one  has  well  said  that  truth,  taught  by  a  parable,  is  like  the 
kernel  hid  away  in  a  nut.  The  parable,  like  the  shell  of  the  nut,  covers 
up  the  kernel.  Those  who  really  want  the  kernel  will  crack  the  shell, 
and  get  it:  but  those  who  are  not  willing  to  crack  the  shell  will  never  get 
the  kernel.  The  shell  of  the  nut  keeps  the  kernel  safe  for  one  of  these 
persons,  and  s3.{&fro)n  the  others. 

But,  after  the  time  of  which  we  have  spoken,  Jesus  used  parables 
freely.  We  are  told  that — "without  a  parable  spake  he  not  unto  the 
people."  St.  Mark  xiii :  34.  He  used  parabbs  among  his  disciples  for  two 
reasons :  these  were  to  help  them  to  miderstand,  and  to  remember  what 
he  taught  them. 

We  have  a  great  many  of  the  parables  of  Jesus  in  the  gospels.  A 
full  list  of  them  will  contain  not  less  \kv3iXi  fifty .  It  would  be  easy  enough 
to  make  a  sermon  on  each  of  these  parables.  But  that  would  make  a 
larger  work  than  this  whole  Life  of  Christ,  on  which  we  are  now  en- 
gaged. It  is  impossible  therefore  to  speak  of  all  the  parables.  We  can 
only  make  selections,  or  take  some  specimens  of  them.  We  may  speak 
of  five  different  lessons  as  illustrated  by  some  of  the  parables  of  Christ. 
These  are — TJie  value  of  religion :  Chrisf  slave  to  sinners :  The  dnty  of 
forgiveness :    TJie  duty  of  kindness :  and  the  effect  of  good  example. 

JVell  then  we  may  begin  by  considering  what  J^esns  taught  us  of — 
The  Value  of  Religion — in  his  parables. 

The  parable  of  The  Treasure  hid  in  the  field,  teaches  us  this  truth. 
We  find  this  parable  in  St.  Matth.  xiii :  44.  Here  Jesus  says,  "  The  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  like  unto  treasure  hid  in  a  field :  which  when  a  man 
hath  found,  he  hideth,  and  for  joy  thereof  goeth  and  selleth  all  that  he 
hath,  and  buyeth  that  field."  The  words  "  kingdom  of  heaven  "  are  used 
by  our  Saviour  in  different  senses.  Sometimes,  as  here,  they  mean  the 
grace  of  God,  or  true  religion.  And  what  Jesus  teaches  us  by  this  parable 
is  that  true  religion  is  more  valuable  than  anything  else  in  the  world. 

The  next  parable,  in  the  45th  and  46th  verses  of  the  same  chapter,  is 
about  The  Pearl  of  Great  Price.  This  teaches  the  same  lesson.  It  reads 
thus: — "The   kingdom   of  heaven   is   like  unto   a  merchantman  seeking 


536 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


goodly  pearls :  who,  when  he  had  found  one  pearl  of  great  price,  went  and 
sold  all  that  he  had  and  bought  it."  By  this  "pearl  of  great  price  "  Jesus 
meant  true  religion,  as  he  did  by  the  treasure  hid  in  the  field  in  the 
former  parable.  And  the  truth  he  teaches  in  both  these  jjarables,  is  that 
religion  is  more  important  to  us  than  anything  else  in  the  world.     Let  us 

look  at  some  in- 
cidents that  may 
help  to  illustrate 
for  us  the  value 
of  religion. 

ycsits  makes 
every  tiling  Rig  Jit. 
A  poor  lame  boy 
became  a  Chris- 
tian, and  in  tell- 
ing what  effect 
this  change  had 
upon  him,  these 
are  the  words  he 
used  to  a  person 
who  was  visiting 
him:  "Once every 
thing  went  wrong 
at  our  house ;  fa- 
ther was  wrong, 
mother  was 
wrong,  sister  was 
A\rong,  and  I  \\as 
wrong;  but  now, 
since  I  have 
learned  to  know  and  love  Jesus  it  is  all  right.  I  know  why  everything 
went  wrong  before  : — it  was  because  I  was  wrong  myself."  And  this  is 
true.  The  first  thing  that  religion  does  for  us  is  to  noake  us  be  right  our- 
selves, and  then  to  do  right  to  others. 

"  Bei' — A  young  lady  had  been  trying  to  do  something  very  good,  but 


The  Parable  of  the  Sower. 


CHRIST  TEACHING   BY  PARABLES. 


537 


had  not  succeeded.  Her  mother  said,  "  Marian,  my  child,  God  gives  us 
many  things  to  do,  but  we  must  not  forget  that  he  gives  us  some  things 
to  be ;  and  we  must  learn  to  be  what  God  would  have  us  be,  before  we 
can  do  what  God  would  have  us  do." 

"O  dear  mo- 
ther, please  tell 
me  about  being, 
and  then  I  shall 
know  better 
about  doing." 

"Well,  listen 
my  child,  while  I 
remind  you  of 
some  of  the  Bible 
be's  :  God  says — 

"  Bc-yt  kindly 
affectioned  one 
to  another." 

"  Be-yt  also 
patient." 

"  ^^-ye  thank- 
ful." 

''Be -ye.  chil- 
dren in  malice." 

'' Be-y&  there- 
fore perfect." 

"  i9^-courteous. 

"  Be-not  wise 
in  your  own  con- 
ceits. 

"  Bc-noi  o\^ercome  of  evil." 

"Thank  you,  dear  mother,"  said  Marian.    "  I  hope  I  shall  have  a  better 
day  to-morrow ;  for  I  see  now  that  doing  grows  out  of  being." 

This  is  a  point  worth   dwelling  on,  and  so   I  will  introduce  to  your 
notice  here — 


The  Parable  of  the  Pearl  of  Great  Price. 


Oo^ 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


A  SWARM  OF  BEES  WORTH  HIVING. 

"  Be  patient,  Be  prayerful,  Be  humble.   Be  mild, 
Be  wise  as  a  Solon,  Be  meek  as  a  child. 

Be  studious.  Be  thoughtful.  Be  loving,   Be  kind, 
Be  sure  you  make  matter  subservient    to  mind. 

Be  cautious,  Be  prudent,  Be  trustful.  Be  true, 
Be  courteous  to  all  men,  Be  friendly  with    few. 

Be  temperate  in  argument,  pleasure  and  wine, 
Be  careful  of  conduct,  of  money,  of  time. 

Be  cheerful,  Be  grateful.  Be  hopeful.  Be  firm. 
Be  peaceful,  benevolent,  willing  to  learn ; 

Be  courageous,  Be  gentle.  Be  liberal,   Be  just. 
Be  aspiring.  Be  humble,  because  }'ou  are  dust. 

Be  penitent,  circumspect,  sound  in  the  faith, 
Be  active,  devoted  ;  Be  faithful  to  death. 

Be  honest,  Be  holy,  transparent  and  pure ; 

Be  dependent.  Be  Christ-like,  and  you'll  be  secure." 

Here  is  a  swarm  of  between  forty  and  fifty  bees.  The  religion  of 
Jesus  will  help  us  to  make  these  all  our  own.  How  great  then  must  the 
value  of  religion  be!  Surely  it  is  worth  while  for  each  of  us  to  try  and 
secure  it! 

I  think  I  never  saw  a  better  view  of  the  value  of  religion,  than  is 
seen  in  the  following  statement  of  what  it  does  for  us.  I  know  not  by 
whom  it  was  written,  but  it  is  put  in  the  form  of  that  sacred  sign  to  which 
we  owe  all  the  blessings  of  salvation — the  sign  of  — 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  PARABLES. 


539 


THE   CROSS. 


Blest  they  who  seek 

While  in  their  youdi, 

With    spirit   meek. 

The    way    of   truth. 

To    them 

the    sacred    scriptures    now    display 

Christ    as    the     onl)'    true     and     living    way; 

His    precious     blood    on     Calvary    was     given 

To  make  them  heirs  of  endless   bliss    in   Heaven. 

And    e'en    on    earth    the   child  of  God    can   trace 

The    glorious    blessings    of   the    Saviour's    grace. 

For    tliem    He    bore 
His    Father's    frown  ; 
For    them    He    wore 
The    thorn)-    Crown ; 
Nailed  to  the  Cross, 
Endured    its   pain. 
That  his   life's    loss 
Might  be  their  gain. 
Then  haste  to  choose 
That    better    part. 
Nor     dare     r  e  f  u  s  e 
The  Lord  thy  heart, 
Lest  he  declare, — 
"I  know  you  not," 
And  deep   despair 

Should   be    \-our    lot. 

Now 

look  to  Jesus,  who  on  Calvar> 

died, 

And  trust  on  him  who  there  was  crucified. 

540 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


Leaving  it  all  with  yesits. — Annie  W was  a  young   Christian. 

In  her  fourteenth  year  she  was  taken  with  a  severe  illness,  from  which 
the  doctor  said  she  could  not  recover.  When  she  became  too  weak  to 
leave  the  sofa,  she  would  send  for  one  and   another  of  the  neighbors  to 


The  Parable  of  the  Lost  Piece  of  Money. 


come  in  to  see  her,  and  then  she  would  speak  to  them  of  Jesus  and  his 
great  salvation.  One  day  a  poor  old  woman  who  was  not  a  Christian, 
came  in  to  see  her. 

"  You  are  very  ill,  my  dear,"  she  said  to  Annie. 


CHRIST   TEACHING   BY  PARABLES. 


541 


"Yes,"  she  replied,  "but  I  shall  soon  be  well." 

The  poor  woman  shook  her  head  as  she  looked  at  Annie's  mother, 
saying,  "  Poor  dear  creature  ;  she  cannot  possibly  get  well.  No  :  she  will 
never  get  over  it."     Then  turning  to  Annie,  she  said — 

"  Don't  you  know,  my  dear,  that  you  are  going  to  die?" 


The  Parable  of  the  Unleavened  Bread. 


"  I  know  I  am  going  to  live,"  she  said  with  a  sweet  smile.  "  I  shall 
soon  be  with  Jesus  in  heaven,  and  live  forever  with  him." 

"  Oh,  how  can  you  know  that,  my  dear  ?  We  must  not  be  too  sure 
you  know,"  said  the  poor  woman. 


542  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

"  Oh,"  said  Annie,  pointing  to  a  card  hanging  on  the  wall,  near  her 
bed,  on  which  was  printed  in  large  letters  the  hymn  headed — "  1  leave  it 
all  with  Jesus."  "TlTat's  w^hat  I  do!  That's  what  I  do."  These  are  the 
words  of  the  hymn  which  gave  that  dear  child  so  much  comfort  on  her 
dying  bed. 

"  I  leave  it  all  with    Jesus, 

Then  wherefore  should   I  fear  ? 
I  leave  it  all  with    Jesus, 
And  he  is  ever  near. 


I  leave  it  all  with    Jesus, 

Trust  him  for  what  must  be ; 
I  leave  it  all  with    Jesus, 
.    Who  ever  thinks  of  me. 

I  bring  it  all  to  Jesus, 

In  calm,  believing  prayer; 

I  bring  it  all  to  Jesus, 

And  I  love  to  LEAVE  it  there! 

Each  tear,  each  sigh,  each  trouble, 
Each  disappointment, — all 

I  love  to  GIVE  to  Jesus, 

Who  loves  to  TAKE  them  all." 


And  here  we  have  a  beautiful  illustration  of  one  of  the  thing's 
which  Jesus  taught  us  in  his  parables,  namely — the  value  of  religion. 

Another  thing  we  are  taught  in  these  parables  is — Christ's  Love 
FOR  Sinnp:rs. 

The  parable  of  the  lost  sheep  teaches  us  this  truth :  but  as  we  had 
occasion  to  speak  of  this  in  our  last  number,  when  illustrating  the  tender- 
ness of  Christ,  as  the  Great  Teacher,  we  may  let  that  pass  now.  But  the 
parable  of  the  lost  piece  of  money  teaches  the  same  lesson.  We  have 
this  parable  in  St.  Luke  xv.  8th  and  9th  verses.  Here  we  are  told  of  a 
woman  who  had  ten  pieces  of  silver,  and  lost  one  of  them.  Then  she  laid 
the  others  aside,  and  searched  diligently  for  the  lost  piece  till  she  found 


I 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  PARABLES.  543 

it.  This  woman  represents  Jesus.  The  lost  piece  of  money  represents 
our  souls  lost  by  sin.  The  efforts  of  the  woman  to  find  the  lost  piece  re- 
present what  Jesus  did,  when  he  left  heaven,  and  took  our  nature  upon 
him,  and  came  as  "  the  Son  of  man  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was 
losty  And  it  was  the  love  of  Jesus  for  poor  sinners  which  led  him  to  do 
all  this  for  us.  And  everything  connected  with  the  history  of  Jesus,  when 
he  was  on  earth,  shows  the  greatness  of  his  love.  Think  of  Bethlehem 
and  its  manger.  There  we  see  the  love  of  Jesus.  Think  of  Gethsemane 
with  its  bloody  sweat ;  there  we  see  the  love  of  Jesus.  Think  of  Calvary 
with  its  cross  of  shame  and  agony ;  for  there  we  see  the  love  of  Jesus. 

And  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son  teaches  us  the  same  lesson. 
We  read  of  this  in  the  same  chapter.  St  Luke  xv:  11-32.  This  son  had 
been  disobedient  and  ungrateful.  He  had  taken  the  money  his  father 
gave  him  and  had  gone  away  and  spent  it  in  living  very  wickedly.  And 
when  the  money  was  all  spent,  and  he  was  likely  to  starve,  he  went  back 
to  his  father,  hungry  and  ragged,  and  asked  to  be  taken  in.  And  instead 
of  scolding,  and  punishing  him  as  he  deserved ;  as  soon  as  his  father  saw 
him,  he  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck  and  kissed  him ;  and  took  off  his  rags, 
and  dressed  him  in  good  clothes,  and  made  a  great  feast  for  him.  How 
beautifully  this  parable  illustrates  the  love  of  Christ  for  sinners! 

And  when  we  learn  to  know  and  feel  the  love  of  Christ  for  us,  it  does 
two  blessed  things  for  us. 

One  is,  //  makes  lis  good.  We  hear  a  great  deal  about  conversion. 
This  word  conversion  simply  means — turning.  When  a  person  has  been 
living  without  trying  to  serve  or  please  God,  and  is  led  to  see  how  wrong 
it  is  to  live  in  that  way,  and  then  feels  an  earnest  desire  to  turn  round, 
and  live  differently,  and  really  does  so : — that  is  conversion.  The  teach- 
ing, or  preaching  of  the  gospel  is  the  chief  means  that  God  employs  to 
convert  men.  And  the  thing  about  the  gospel- in  which  this  converting 
power  lies  is — the  love  of  Christ.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  what  this 
means. 

He  Loved  Me. — An  English  minister  of.  the  gospel  was  travelling  in 
Switzerland  one  summer.  As  he  passed  from  place  to  place,  he  preached 
by  means  of  an  interpreter,  in  various  churches.  One  Sunday  night  he 
preached  from  the  words,  "  He  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me."  Gal. 


^iS)/ 


544 


The  Parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son. 


The  Parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son. 


545 


546  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


\v.  20.    Then  he  went  on  his  way  without  knowing  what  effect  had  followed 
from  his  preaching. 

One  Saturday  evening,  several  weeks  after,  the  minister  of  this  church 
was  sitting  in  his  study.  There  came  a  faint  knock  at  his  door.  He 
opened  it,  when,  to  his  great  surprise  he  saw  there  a  young  man,  who  was 
known  as  the  wickedest  young  man  in  that  neighborhood ;  and  the  leader 
of  others  in  all  sorts  of  wickedness.  He  invited  him  in,  gave  him  a  seat, 
and  asked  him  what  he  wished.  Judge  of  his  surprise  when  the  young 
man  said  he  wished  to  inquire,  if  he  might  come  to  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper,  which  was  to  be  celebrated  in  his  church  the  next  day! 

"  But  are  you  not  aware,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  minister,  "  that 
only  those  who  love  Christ,  and  are  trying  to  serve  him,  have  any  right 
to  come  to  that  holy  ordinance  ?" 

"  I  know  it,  sir,"  said  the  young  man,  "  and  I  am  thankful  to  feel  that 
I  am  among  that  number." 

"  But,"  asked  the  astonished  pastor,  "  are  you  not  known  in  this  vil- 
lage as  the  ringleader  in  all  evil  doings  ?" 

"  Alas  !  it  is  too  true  that  it  has  been  so,"  he  replied,  "  but  thank  God 
all  is  changed  now." 

"  I  am  happy  indeed  to  hear  it ;  but  pray  tell  me  what  has  led  to  this 
great  change." 

"  I  was  in  your  church,  sir,"  said  he,  "some  weeks  ago,  when  that 
English  minister  preached  from  the  words,  'Who  loved  me  and  gave 
himself  for  me.'  That  was  the  first  time  I  ever  understood  about  the  love 
of  Christ.  It  led  to  my  repentance,  and  conversion ;  and  now  I  wish  to 
show  my  love  to  Jesus  by  trying  to  serve  and  please  him." 

Here  we  see  how  the  love  of  Christ  makes  us  good. 

But  it  makes  ns  happy,  as  well  as  good.  Here  is  a  little  story  that 
illustrates  this  point  very  well.     We  may  call  it — 

Maggies  Secret. — "  Maggie  Blake,  how  can  you  study  so  hard,  and  be 
so  provokingly  good  ?"  This  question  was  asked  by  Jennie  Lee,  who  was 
one  of  the  largest  and  wildest  girls  in  the  school.  Maggie  hesitated  a 
moment,  whether  to  tell  her  secret  or  not.  But,  presently  she  lifted  up 
her  eyes,  looked  her  companion  bravely  in  the  face,  and  said — "■  It's  for 
Jesus'  sake,  Jennie." 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  PARABLES.       '  547 

*'  But  do  you  think  he  cares  ?"  asked  Jennie  in  a  soft,  subdued  voice, 
— "  do  you  think  he  cares  how  we  act?" 

"I  kiioia  he  does,"  said  Maggie.  "  And  "it  makes  it  so  pleasant  you 
see,  even  to  study  and  get  hard  lessons,  when  I  know  he  is  looking  at 
me,  and  is  pleased  to  have  me  working  my  best  for  him.  He  always 
helps  me  to  get  my  lessons ;  and  then  helps  me  to  say  them  right.  You 
know  I  used  to  be  so  frightened  I  could  not  say  them,  even  when  I  had 
learned  them  well." 

"  Yes,"  said  Jennie,  remembering  very  well  how  Maggie  had  changed 
in  this  respect. 

"  That  was  before  I  thought  of  learning  them  for  Jesus.  After  that 
he  helped  me  all  along.  It  makes  me  like  school ;  and  even  disagreeable 
things  are  pleasant  when  I  think  of  doing  them  for  him." 

Jennie  had  often  watched  Maggie,  and  wondered  what  made  her 
have  such  a  bright,  cheerful,  happy  look.  Now  she  knew  the  secret  of  it. 
It  was  doing  everything  "  for  Jesus'  sake."  She  felt  she  would  gladly  give 
everything  she  had  to  be  as  happy  as  Maggie.  She  asked  Maggie  to 
pray  for  her,  and  she  began  to  pray  for  herself.  Then  Jesus  helped  her, 
and  she  soon  had  Maggie's  secret  for  her  own.  The  girls  in  school  won- 
dered at  the  change  which  had  come  over  Jennie.  But  when  they  heard 
that  she  had  been  confirmed,  and  had  joined  the  church,  they  understood 
it  all.  They  knew  she  "had  been  with  Jesus;"  and  that  it  w^as  learning 
to  know  and  feel  his  wonderful  love  which  had  made  Jennie  so  good,  and 
so  happy. 

And  so,  we  see  that  Jesus  was  doing  a  blessed  thing  for  us  when  he 
taught  the  parables  which  show  his  love  for  sinners. 

A  third  thing  taught  /ts  by  soJiie  of  the  parables  of  Jesus  is — The 
Duty  of  Kindness. 

One  day,  while  Jesus  was  on  earth,  a  young  man  came  to  him  with 
the  great  question,  what  he  should  do  to  obtain  eternal  life.  Jesus 
referred  him  to  the  Ten  Commandments ;  and  reducing  them  to  two,  he 
told  the  young  man  that  these  commandments  required  him  to  love  God 
with  all  his  heart,  and  his  neighbor  as  himself;  and  then  said  if  he  would 
do  this  he  would  be  saved. 

This  is  perfectly  true.     Any  one  would  be  saved  who  should  do  this. 


548 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


But  no  one  ever  has  done  this  except  our  blessed  Lord  Himself.  He 
"  magnified  the  law  and  made  it  honorable"  by  keeping  it  perfectly.  I 
suppose  that  Jesus  intended  to  give  this  young  man  some  lessons  about 
the  commandments  of  God,  which  would  lead  him  to  see  that  he  never 
could  keep  them  himself;  and  that  he  would  need  some  one  to  keep  them 

for  him,  and  that 
tills  w'as  the  only 
way  in  ^\■hich  he, 
or  any  one  else 
could  be  saved.  It 
may  have  been  that 
the  young  man  did 
not  want  to  hear 
any  thing  more  on 
that  subject,  and 
so  he  gave  the 
conversation  a  dif- 
ferent turn  by  ask- 
ing— "  who  is  my 
neighbor  ?"  when 
Jesus  said  he  must 
love  his  neighbor 
as  himself  And 
then,  in  answer  to 
this  question  Jesus 
told  the  parable  of 
the  "  Good  Samar- 
itan." We  have 
this  parable  in  St. 
Luke  X.  30-37. 
Here  we  are  told  of  a  certain  man  who  was  going  down  from  Jerusa- 
lem to  Jericho,  and  fell  among  thieves.  They  robbed  him ;  and  wounded 
him;  and  left  him  half  dead.  While  he  was  lying  there  helpless,  and 
suffering,  a  priest  and  a  Levite  came,  and  looked  on  him,  and  passed  by 
on  the  other  side,  without  giving  him  any  help.     Then  we  are  told  that  a 


The  Parable  of  the  Good  Samaritan. 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  PARABLES. 


549 


certain  Samaritan  came  by,  and  when  he  saw  the  poor  wounded  man' 
lying  there,  although  he  was  a  Jew,  and  the  Jews  and  the  Samaritans 
hated  each  other  very  much,  yet  he  pitied  him,  and  went  up  to  him,  and 
bound  up  his  wounds,  and  set  him  on  his  own  beast,  and  carried  him  to 
an  inn,  and  told  them  to  take  care  of  him,  and  said  that  he  would  pay 
all  his  expenses. 
Then  Jesus  asked 
the  question, 
"  Which  now,  of 
these  three  think - 
est  thou  was 
neighbor  to  him 
that  fell  among 
thieves  ?  And  he 
said,  he  that  show- 
ed mercy  on  him. 
Then  said  Jesus 
unto  him,  Go,  and 
do  thou  likewise." 
Thus  Jesus 
taught  the  duty  of 
kindness.  This 
kindness  we  must 
show,  not  to  our 
friends  only,  but 
to  our  enemies. 
Kindness  to  all  is 
the  duty  that  Jesus 
teaches. 

Let  us  look  at 
one  or  two    illustratioris  of  tLe  way  in  which  we  should  do  this. 

The  Honey  Shield.  It  is  said  that  wasps  and  bees  will  not  sting  a 
person  whose  skin  is  covered  with  honey.  And  so  those  who  are  ex- 
posed to  the  sting  of  these  venomous  little  creatures  smear,  their  hands 
and  faces  over  with  honey,  and  this,  we  are  told,  proves  the  best  shield 


The  Parable  of  the  Unjust  Jud 


550  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


they  can  have  to  keep  them  from  getting  stung.  And  the  honey  here 
very  well  represents  the  kindness  w^hich  Jesus  teaches  us  to  practice.  If 
kindness,  gendeness,  and  forbearance  are  found  running  through  all  our 
words  and  actions,  we  shall  have  the  best  shield  to  protect  us  from  the 
spiteful  stings  of  wicked  people. 

AndnKles  and  the  Lion.  Most  of  those  who  read  these  pages  may 
have  heard  this  story,  but  it  illustrates  the  point  before  us  so  well,  that  I 
do  not  hesitate  to  use  it  here. 

Androcles  was  a  Roman  slave.  To  escape  the  cruel  treatment  of 
his  master  he  ran  away.  A  lonely  cave  in  the  midst  of  a  forest  was  his 
home  for  a  while.  Returning  to  his  cave  one  day  he  met  a  lion  near  the 
mouth  of  the  cave.  He  was  bellowing  as  if  in  pain  ;  and  on  getting 
nearer  to  him,  he  found  that  he  was  suffering  from  a  thorn  which  had  run 
into  one  of  his  paws.  It  was  greatly  swollen,  and  inflamed,  and  was 
causing  him  much  pain.  Androcles  went  up  to  the  suffering  beast.  He 
drew  out  the  rankling  thorn  and  thus  relieved  him  of  his  pain.  His 
nature,  savage  as  it  was,  felt  the  power  of  the  kindness  thus  shown  to  him. 
He  became  attached  to  the  lonely  slave,  and  shared  his  prey  with  him 
while  they  remained  together. 

But,  after  a  while  the  retreat  of  Androcles  was  discovered.  He  was 
taken,  and  carried  back  to  his  master.  The  lion  also  was  made  a  prisoner 
soon  after.  Androcles  was  kept  in  prison  for  some  time ;  and  finally, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  Romans,  he  was  condemned  to  be  de- 
voured by  wild  beasts.  The  lion  to  be  let  loose  on  Androcles  had  been 
kept  a  long  time  without  food,  and  was  very  hungry.  When  the  door  of 
his  den  was  opened  he  rushed  out  with  a  tremendous  roar.  The  Colos- 
seum was  crowded  with  spectators.  They  expected  to  see  the  poor  slave 
torn  to  pieces  in  a  moment.  But,  to  the  surprise  of  e\'ery  one,  the  great 
monster,  hungry  as  he  was,  instead  of  devouring  the  condemned  man, 
crouched  at  his  feet,  and  began  to  fondle  him,  as  a  pet  dog  would  do. 
He  recognised  in  the  poor  prisoner  his  friend  of  the  forest,  and  showed 
that  he  had  not  forgotten  his  kindness.  The  kindness  of  Androcles  had 
been  like  the  honey  shield  to  him.  It  saved  his  life,  first  from  the  savage 
beast  in  the  forest ;  and  then  from  the  savage  men  in  the  city.  Let  us  all 
put  on  this  shield,  and  wear  it  wherever  we  go.     The  lesson  of  kindness 


CHRIST   TEACHING  BY  PARABLES.  551 


which  Jesus  teaches  in  this  parable,  has  been  very  well  put  by  some  one 
in  these  sweet  Hues. 


THE  LESSON   OF  KINDNESS. 

'Think  kindly  of  the  erring ! 

Thou  knowest  not  the  power 
With  which  the  dark  temptation  came 

In  some  unguarded  hour ; 
Thou  knowest  not  how  earnestly 

They  struggled,  or  how  well, 
Until  the  hour  of  weakness  came, 

And  sadly  then  they  fell. 


Speak  kindly  to  the  erring ! 

Thou  yet  may'st  lead  him  back 
With  holy  words,  and  tones  of  love, 

From  misery's  thorn)'  track  : 
Forget  not  thou  hast  often  sinned 

And  sinful  yet  must  be : — 
Deal  kindly  with  the  erring  one 

As  God  hath  dealt  with  thee  !" 


The  duty  of  kindness  was  the  third  lesson  Jesus  taught  in  the 
parables. 

A  foiirfJi  lesson  taught  its  in  sonic  of  the  parables  of  Jesits  is — 
The  Duty  of  Forgiveness. 

The  apostle  Peter  came  to  Jesus  one  day,  and  asked  him  how  often 
he  ought  to  forgive  a  brother  that  offended  him ;  and  whether  it  would  be 
enough  to  forgive  him  seven  times.  The  answer  of  Jesus  was,  "  I  say  not 
unto  thee,  until  seven  times,  but  until  seventy  times  seven."  St.  Math. 
18:  22.  Then  Jesus  spoke  the  parable  of  the  two  debtors.  St.  Math. 
18:23-35.  One  of  these  owed  his  master  ten  thousand  talents.  If  these 
were  talents  of  silver  they  would  amount  to  more  than  fifteen  millions  of 
dollars.  If  they  were  talents  of  gold,  ..they  would  amourtt  to  three 
hundred  millions.     This  would  show  that  his  debt  was  so  great  that  he 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


never  could  pay  it.  Then  his  master  freely  forgave  him.  But  not  long 
after,  he  found  one  of  his  fellow-servants,  who  owed  him  a  hundred 
pence,  or  about  fifteen  dollars  of  our  money.  The  man  asked  him  to 
forgive  him  the  debt.     He  would  not  do  it;  but  put  him  in  prison.  \Mien 


The  Parable  of  the  Laborer  in  the  Vineyard. 

his  master  heard  of  this  he  was  very  angry,  and  put  him  in  prison,  where 
he  should  be  punished  until  he  had  paid  all  his  great  debt.  And  Jesus 
finished  the  parable  by  saying — ''so  likewise,  shall  my  heavenly  Father  do 
tinto  yoii,  if  ye,  fyom  yonr  hearts  forgive  not  every  one,  his  brother  their 
trespasses^  And  here  we  are  taught  the  great  duty  of  forgiveness.  And 
this  same  duty  is  taught  us  in  the  Lord  s  Prayer,  where  he  says — "  For- 


CHRIST  TEACHING   BY  PARABLES. 


553 


give  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  also  forgive  those  v:\\o  trespass  against  us." 
If  we  use  this  prayer  without  forgiving  those  who  injure  us,  then,  in  so 
using  it,  we  are  really  asking  God  nof  to  forgive  us. 

And  Jesus  practiced  what  he  preaclicd.  As  he  hung  bleeding  and 
agonizing  on  the 
cross,  while  his 
enemies  were 
cruelly  mocking 
his  m  i  sery,  h  e 
looked  up  to 
heaven,  and  ut- 
tered that  won- 
derful prayer — 
"  Father  forgive 
tliem ;  for  they 
know  not  10  h  a  t 
they  dor  Here 
we  ha\"e  the  best 
illustration  of  for- 
giveness that  the 
world  has  ever 
seen. 

Example  of 
Forgiveness.  —  In 
a  school  in  Ire- 
la  n  d,  one  boy 
struck  another. 
The    o  ff  e  n  d  i  n  g 

bov    was    brOUSfht  The  Parable  of  the  Pharisee  and  the  Sadducee'. 

up  to  be  punished, 

when  the  injured  boy  begged  for  his  pardon.  The  teacher  asked — "Why 
do  you  wish  to  keep  him  from  being  flogged  ?"  The  ready  reply  was — 
"  Because  I  have  read  in  the  New  Testament  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
said  that  we  must  forgive  our  enemies ;  and  therefore  I  forgive  him,  and 
beg  that  he  may  not  be  punished  for  my  sake." 


554  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Good  for  Evil. — At  the  foot  of  a  street  in  New  York,  stood  an 
Italian  organ  grinder,  with  his  organ.  A  number  of  boys  had  gathered 
round  him,  but  they  were  more  anxious  to  have  some  fun  than  to  hear 
music.     One  of  them  said  to  his  companions : — 

"See!  I'll  hit  his  hat!" 

And  sure  enough  he  did.  Making  up  a  snow  ball,  he  threw  it  with 
so  much  force,  that  the  poor  man's  hat  was  knocked  into  the  gutter.  A 
gentleman,  standing  by,  expected  to  see  him  get  very  angry,  and  swear 
at  the  boy.  But,  very  different  from  this  was  the  result  that  followed. 
The  musician  stopped ;  stepped  forward  and  picked  up  his  hat.  Then  he 
turned  to  the  rude  boy,  and  gracefully  bowing,  said : — 

"And  now,  I'll  play  you  a  tune  to  make  you  merry!"  There  was 
real  Christian  forgiveness. 

The  Poivei"  of  the  Gospel. — Years  ago  some  carpenters  moved  to  the 
Island  of  New  Zealand,  and  set  up  a  shop  for  carrying  on  their  business. 
They  were  engaged  to  build  a  chapel,  at  one  of  the  Mission  Stations. 
One  of  these  carpenters,  a  pleasant,  kind-hearted  man,  engaged  a  native 
Christian  to  dig  his  garden  for  him.  When  the  work  was  done  the  man 
went  to  the  shop  for  his  pay.  Another  of  the  carpenters  there,  who  was  a 
very  ill-tempered  man,  told  the  native  to  get  out  of  the 'shop.  "  Don't  be 
angry,"  was  the  gentle  reply;  "  I  have  only  come  to  have  at  little  talk  with 
your  partner,  and  to  get  my  wages  from  him."  "  But  I  a)n  angry."  And 
then  taking  hold  of  the  New  Zealander  by  the  shoulder,  he  abused  and 
kicked  him  in  the  most  cruel  manner. 

The  native  made  no  resistance  till  the  carpenter  ceased.  Then  he 
jumped  up,  seized  him  by  the  throat,  and  snatching  a  small  axe  from  the 
bench,  flourished  it  threateningly  over  his  head.  "  Now,  you  see,"  said 
he,  "your  life  is  in  my  hand.  You  see  my  arm  is  strong  enough  to  kill 
you ;  and  my  arm  is  quite  \\il!ing,  but  my  heart  is  not.  I  have  heard  the 
missionaries  preach  the  gospel  of  forgiveness.  You  owe  your  life  to  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel.  If  my  heart  was  as  dark  no\\*,  as  it  was  before 
the  gospel  was  preached  here,  I  should  strike  off  your  head  in  an  instant!" 

Then  he  released  the  carpenter  without  injuring  him,  and  accepted 
from  him  a  blanket  as  an  apology  for  the  insult.  How  faithfully  this  man 
was  practising  the  duty  of  forgiveness  which  Jesus  taught ! 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  PARABLES.  555 

The  only  other  thing  of  7vhich  we  shall  noio  speak,  as  taught  by  our 
Saviour  in  the  parables  is — The  Influence  of  Good  Example. 

The  parable  which  teaches  this  lesson  is,  that  of  the  lighted  candle. 
It  is  one  of  the  shortest  of  our  Lord's  parables,  and  yet  the  truth  it  teaches 
is  very  important.  We  first  find  this  parable  in  the  sermon  on  the  mount. 
These  are  the  words  in  which  it  is  given  :  "  Neither  do  men  light  a  candle 
and  put  it  under  a  bushel,  but  on  a  candlestick ;  and  it  giveth  light  unto 
all  that  are  in  the  house.  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they 
may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 
Matth.  V  :^  15.  This  parable  is  so  important,  that  we  find  it  repeated  in 
three  other  places.     Mark  iv  :  21,  Luke  viii :   16,  and  xi :  33. 

We  find  the  same  idea  taught  by  one  of  England's  greatest  writers. 
Looking  at  a  candle  shining  through  a  window,  he  says: — 

"  How  far  yon  little  candle  throws  its  beam ! 
So  shines  a  good  deed  in  a  naughty  world." 

And  the  lesson  we  are  here  taught  is  that  we  should  always  set  a 
good  example  by  doing  what  we  know  to  be  right,  and  then,  like  a  candle 
shining  in  a  dark  place,  we  shall  be  useful  wherever  we  go.  Let  us  look 
at  one  or  two  incidents  that  illustrate  this. 

A  Boy's  Influence. — Two  families  lived  in  one  house.  In  each  of 
these  families  there  was  a  little  boy  about  the  same  age.  These  boys 
slept  together.  One  of  them  had  a  good  pious  mother.  She  had  trained 
him  to  kneel  down  every  night,  before  getting  into  bed,  and  say  his 
prayer  in  an  audible  voice,  and  to  repeat  a  text  of  scripture  which  she  had 
taught  him.  Now  the  first  time  he  slept  with  the  other  little  boy,  who 
never  said  any  prayers,  he  was  tempted  to  jump  into  bed,  as  his  compan- 
ion did,  without  kneeling  down  to  pray  But  he  was  a  brave  and  noble 
boy.  He  said  to  himself — '•  I  am  not  afraid  to  do  what  my  mother  taught 
me.  I  am  not  ashamed  for  anybody  to  know  that  I  pray  to  God.  I'll  do 
as  I  have  been  taught  to  do."  He  did  so.  He  let  his  light  shine.  And 
see  what  followed  from  its  shining ! 

The  little  boy,  who  had  never  been  taught  to  pray,  learned  his  com- 
panion's prayer,  and  the  verse  he  repeated,  by  hearing  them,  and  he  never 


556 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


forgot  them.  He  grew  up  to  be  an  earnest  Christian  man.  When  he 
lay  on  his  death-bed,  quite  an  aged  man,  he  sent  for  the  friend  whose 
prayer  he  had  learned,  to  come  and  see  him,  and  told  him  that  it  was  his 
little  prayer,  so  faithfully  said  every  night  when  they  were  boys,  which  led 

him  to  become  a 
Christian.  He  re- 
peated the  prayer 
and  the  verse, 
word  for  word, 
and  with  his  dy- 
ing lips  thanked 
his  friend  for  let- 
ting his  light  shine 
as  he  did,  for  that 
had  saved  his  soul. 
Here  is  another 
illustration  of  a 
Christian  1  e  tting 
his  light  shine,  and 
the  good  that  was 
done  by  it.  \\q. 
may  call  it — 

The  Shilling 
Bible,  and  what 
came  of  it. — Some 
years  ago  a  Chris- 
tian gentleman 
went  on  a  visit  for 
three  days,  to  the 
house  of  a  rich  lady  who  lived  at  the  west  end  of  London.  After  tea, 
on  the  first  evening  of  his  arrival,  he  called  one  of  the  servants,  and  tell- 
ing her  that  in  the  hurry  of  leaving  home  he  had  forgotten  to  bring  a 
Bible  with  him,  he  requested  her  to  ask  the  lady  of  the  house  to  be  kind 
enough  to  lend  him  one. 


The  Parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins. 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  PARABLES. 


557 


Now  that  house  was  beautifully  furnished.  There  were  splendid 
pictures  on  the  walls,  and  elegantly  bound  volumes  in  the  library,  and  on 
the  tables  in  the  parlor ;  but  there  was  not  a  Bible  in  the  house.  The 
lady  felt  ashamed  to  own  that  she  had  no  Bible.     So  she  gave  the  servant 


The  Parable  of  the    Talent. 


a  shilling,  and  told  her  to  go  to  the  book  store  round  the  corner  and  buy 
a  Bible.  The  Bible  was  bought  and  given  to  the  gentleman.  He  used 
it  during  his  visit,  and  then  went  home,  little  knowing  how  much  good 
that  shilling  Bible  was  to  do. 


558  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

When  he  was  gone  the  lady  at  whose  house  he  had  been  staying,  said 
to  herself: — 

"  How  strange  it  is  that  an  intelligent  gentleman  like  my  friend,  could 
not  bear  to  go  for  three  days  without  reading  the  Bible,  while  I  never  read 
it  at  all,  and  don't  know  what  it  teaches.  I  am  curious  to  know  what  there 
is  in  this  book  to  make  it  so  attractive.  I  mean  to  begin  and  read  it 
through."  She  began  to  read  it  at  first  out  of  simple  curiosity.  But,  as 
she  went  on  reading  she  became  deeply  interested  in  it.  It  showed  her 
what  a  sinner  she  was,  in  living  without  God  in  the  world.  It  led  her  to 
pray  earnestly  for  the  pardon  of  her  sins ;  and  the  end  of  it  was,  that  she 
became  a  Christian.  Then  she  desired  that  her  children  should  know 
and  love  the  Saviour  too.  She  prayed  for  them.  She  talked  with  them, 
and  taught  them  the  precious  truths  contained  in  that  blessed  book.  And 
the  result  was  that,  one  by  one,  they  were  all  led  to  Jesus,  and  became 
Christians.  And  so  that  whole  family  were  saved  by  means  of  that  shil- 
ling Bible. 

When  that  gentleman  asked  for  the  use  of  a  J3ible,  in  the  house 
where  he  was  visiting,  he  was  setting  a  good  example.  He  was  putting 
his  candle  on  a  candle-stick,  and  letting  it  shine  And  the  result  that 
followed  gives  us  a  good  illustration  of  the  meaning  of  our  Saviour's 
words  when  he  said : — "  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they 
may  see  your  good  works  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 

And  so,  when  we  remember  the  parables  that  Jesus  taught,  among 
other  things  illustrated  by  them,  we  can  think  of  these, — the  value  of  re- 
ligion : — Christ's  love  for  sinners — the  duty  of  kindness  ; — the  duty  of  for- 
giveness ; — the  influence  of  a  good  example. 

I  know  not  how  to  finish  this  subject  better  than  in  the  words  of,  the 
hymn : — 

"  Father  of  mercies !  in  thy  word, 
What  endless  glory  shines ! 
Forever  be  thy  name  adored 

For  these  celestial  lines. 
O,  may  these  heavenly  pages  be 

My  ever  dear  delight ; 
And  still  new  beauties  may  I  see. 
And  still  increasing  light."    - 


TIHjE   BflO 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLliS. 


E  have  seen  how  many  valuable  lessons  our  Sa- 
viour taught  while  on  earth  by  the  parables 
which  he  used.  But  we  teach  by  our  lives,  as 
well  as  by  our  lips.  It  has  passed  into  a  pro- 
verb, and  we  all  admit  the  truth  of  it,  that 
"Actions  speak  louder  than  words."  If  our 
words  and  our  actions  contradict  each  other, 
people  will  believe  our  actions  sooner  than  our 
words.  But  when  both  agree  together,  then 
the  effect  is  very  great.  This  was  true  with  our 
blessed  Lord.  There  was  an  entire  agreement 
between  what  he  said,  and  what  he  did.  His 
words  and  his  actions,  the  teaching  of  his  lips, 

559 


56o  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

and  the  teaching  of  his  life — were  in  perfect  harmony.  He  practiced 
what  he  preached. 

But  then,  in  addition  to  the  every  day  common  actions  of  the  life  of 
Christ,  there  were  actions  in  it  that  were  very  uncommon.  He  was  daily 
performing  miracles,  and  doing  many  mighty  and  wonderful  works. 
And  the  prophets  before  him,  and  apostles  after  him,  performed  miracles 
too ;  yet  there  were  two  things  in  which  the  miracles  of  Christ  differed 
from  those  performed  by  others.  One  was  as  to  the  uitinber  of  them.  He 
did  a  greater  number  of  wonderful  things  than  any  one  else  ever  did. 
Indeed  if  we  take  the  miracles  that  were  done  by  Moses,  by  Elijah  and 
Elisha,  in  the  Old  Testament;  and  those  that  were  done  by  the  apostles 
in  the  New  Testament,  and  put  them  all  together,  we  shall  find  that  they 
would  not  equal,  in  number,  the  miracles  of  Christ.  There  are  between 
thirty  and  forty,  of  the  mighty  works  wrought  by  our  Saviour  mentioned 
in  the  gospels.  And  these,  as  St.  John  says,  are  only  a  small  portion  of 
them.     Chap,  xxi :  25. 

The  other  thing,  in  which  the  miracles  of  Christ  arc  different  from 
those  performed  by  other  persons,  is  the  ivay  in  luhicli  they  lucre  done. 
The  prophets  and  apostles  did  their  mighty  works  in  the  name  of  God,  or 
of  Christ.  Thus  when  Peter  and  John  healed  the  lame  man,  at  the  gate 
of  the  temple,  they  said : — "  ///  the  name  of  yesi/s  Christ  of  Nazareth, 
rise  up  and  walk."  Acts  iii :  6.  But  Jesus  had  all  the  power  in  himself, 
by  which  those  wonderful  things  were  done.  He  could  say  to  the  leper, 
— '' I  will ;  be  thou  clean."  He  could  say  to  the  sick  man: — "Take  up 
thy  bed  and  walk."  When  speaking  of  his  death  and  resurrection,  he 
could  very  well  say  that  it  was  his  own  power  which  would  control  it  all. 
His  life  was  in  his  own  hands.  It  was  true,  as  he  said,  "No  man  taketh 
it  from  me  ;  but  I  lay  it  down  of  myself  T  have  power  to  lay  it  down 
and  I  have  power  to  take  it  again."  John  x:  18.  And  it  was  the  same 
with  all  his  other  mighty  works.  He  had  all  the  power  in  himself  that 
was  needed  to  do  them. 

And  these  miracles  of  Christ  were  the  proofs  that  he  was  the  Messiah, 
the  great  Saviour,  of  whom  the  prophets  had  spoken.  This  was  what 
Nicodemus  meant  when  he  said  to  Jesus: — "We  know  that  thou  art  a 
teacher  come  from  God:  for  no   man  can  do  these  miracles  that   thou 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES.  561 

doest,  except  God  be  with  him."  John  iii:  2.  And  Jesus  himself  referred 
to  his  miracles  as  the  proof  that  God  had  sent  him.     John  v:  36.  x:  25. 

And  this  was  what  he  meant  by  the  message  which  he  sent  to  John 
the  Baptist,  when  his  disciples  came  to  Jesus,  saying,  "Art  thou  he  that 
should  come,  or  look  we  for  another?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
them.  Go,  and  show  John  again  those  things  which  ye  do  hear  and  see ; 
the  blind  receive  their  sight;  and  the  lame  walk;  the  lepers  are  cleansed; 
and  the  deaf  hear;  the  dead  are  raised  up;  and  the  poor  have  the  gospel 
preached  unto  them."  Matth.  xi :  2-6.  These  were  the  very  things  which 
the  prophets  had  foretold  that  Christ  would  do  when  he  came.  Isaiah 
xxix:   18.  XXXV :  4-6.  xlii :  7. 

It  is  clear  from  these  passages,  that  all  the  miracles  performed  by  our 
Lord,  were  intended  to  teach  this  lesson,  that  he  A\"as  the  great  Saviour  of 
whom  the  prophets  had  spoken.  But  then,  in  addition  to  this,  these 
wonderful  works  of  Jesus  were  made  use  of  by  him,  to  show  tliat  he  has 
power  to  do  everything  for  his  people  that  they  may  need  to  have  him  do. 

It  is  impossible  for  us  to  speak  of  all  the  miracles  of  Christ.  We 
can  only  make  selections  from  them,  as  we  did  with  the  parables  in  the 
last  chapter.  In  looking  at  these  we  may  see  Jesus  teaching  us  that  he 
has  power  to  do  fo//r  things  for  his  people. 

///  the  first  place  some  of  the  miracles  of  Christ  teach  11s  that  he  has 
great  power  to — Help. 

We  see  this  in  the  account  given  us  of  the  miraculous  draught  of 
fishes.  Luke  v:   i-i  i. 

Peter  was  a  fisherman,  before  he  became  a  disciple  of  Jesus.  And 
James  and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee,  were  partners  with  him  in  the  same 
business.  On  one  occasion  they  had  been  busy  all  night,  throwing  out 
and  hauling  in  their  nets,  but  without  catching  a  single  fish.  Early  the 
next  morning,  Jesus  was  walking  along  the  shore  of  the  lake,  near  where 
their  boats  were.  He  knew  how  tired  and  discouraged  they  were,  and 
how  much  they  needed  help ;  and  he  wished  to  show  them  what  wonder- 
ful power  he  had  to  help  in  time  of  need.  So  he  told  them  to  cast  their 
net  on  the  other  side  of  the  ship.  They  did  so ;  and  immediately  their 
nets  were  full ;  and  they  had  more  fish  than  they  could  well  manage. 
Here  we  are  taught  that  even  in  the  depths  of  the  sea,  nothing  can  be 


562  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

hid  from  the  all-seeing  eye  of  our  divine  Sa\'iour.  He  knows  where 
everything  is  that  his  people  can  need;  and  he  has  the  power  to  bring  it 
to  them. 

And  then,  by  his  miracle  of  walking  on  the  sea  Jesus  taught  the  same 
lesson,  ^^^e  have  an  account  of  this  miracle  in  three  places.  Matth.  xiv. 
22-33.  Markvi:  45-52.  John  vi :   14-21. 

At  the  close  of  a  busy  day,  in  which  he  had  been  teaching  the  people, 
and  feeding  them  by  miracle,  Jesus  told  his  disciples  to  go  on  board  a 
vessel  and  cross  over  to  the  other  side  of  the  lake.  Then  he  sent  the 
multitude  away,  and  went  up  into  the  mountain  to  pray  to  his  Father  in 
heaven  whom  he  loved  so  much.  It  proved  to  be  a  stormy  night.  The 
wind  was  dead  ahead ;  and  the  sea  was  very  rough.  The  disciples  were 
having  a  hard  time  of  it.  Tired  of  rowing,  and  making  little  progress, 
there  was  no  prospect  of  their  getting  to  land  before  morning.  But,  dark 
as  the  night  was,  Jesus  saw  them.  It  is  true  as  David  says,  that — "  TJie 
darkness  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to  thccT  Ps.  cxxxix:  12.  He  saw 
they  needed  help,  and  he  resolved  to  give  it  to  them.  But  there  was  no 
boat  at  hand  for  him  to  go  in.  True:  but  he  needed  none.  He  could 
walk  on  the  water  as  well  as  on  the  land.  He  steps  from  the  sandy  shore 
to  the  surface  of  the  storm-tossed  sea.  He  walks  safely  over  its  troubled 
waters.  The  disciples  see  him.  Supposing  it  to  be  a  spirit,  they  are 
alarmed,  and  cry  out  in  their  fear.  But  presently  the  cheering  voice  of 
their  Master  comes  to  them,  saying:  "///>  /.  Be  not  afraid^  He  steps 
on  board.  The  wnnd  ceases,  and  immediately,  without  another  stroke  of 
the  oars,  the  mighty  power  of  Jesus  brings  them  "  in  safety  to  the  haven 
where  they  w^ould  be."  Other  parables  might  be  referred  to  as  teaching 
the  same  lesson.  But  these  are  sufficient.  And  Jesus  has  the  same 
power  to  help  now,  that  he  had  then. 

Here  are  some  illustrations  of  the  strange  way  in  which  he  sometimes 
helps  his  people  in  their  times  of  need. 

The  Dead  Raven. — A  poor  weaver  in  Edinburgh,  lost  his  situation 
one  winter,  on  account  of  business  being  so  dull.  He  begged  earnestly 
of  his  employer  to  let  him  have  work;  but  he  said  it  was  impossible.  Well 
said  he,  "I'm  sure  the  Lord  will  help."  When  he  came  home,  and  told 
his  wife  the  sad  news   she  was  greatly  distressed.     He  tried  to   comfort 


tirirmijTPjprMr 


111       ,4:1  ^^® 


563 


564  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


her  with  the  assurance — "The  Lord  will  help."  But  as  he  could  get  no 
work,  their  money  was  soon  gone ;  and  the  day  came  at  last,  w  hen  there 
was  neither  food,  nor  fuel  left  in  the  house.  The  last  morsel  of  bread 
was  eaten  one  morning  at  breakfast.  "What  shall  we  do  for  dinner?" 
asked  his  wife. 

"The  Lord  will  help" — was  still  his  reply.  And  see  how  the  help 
came.  Soon  after  breakfast,  his  wife  opened  the  front  window,  to  dust  off 
the  sill.  Just  then  a  rude  boy,  who  was  passing,  threw  a  dead  ra\'en  in 
through  the  window.  It  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  pious  weaver.  As  he  threw 
the  bird  in,  the  boy  cried  out  in  mockery,  "  There,  old  saint,  is  something 
for  you  to  eat."  The  weaver  took  up  the  dead  raven,  saying  as  he  did 
so  : — "  Poor  creature  !  you  must  have  died  of  hunger  !" 

But  Avhcn  he  felt  its  crop  to  see  whether  it  was  empty,  he  noticed 
something  hard  in  it.  And  ^\■ishing  to  know  what  had  caused  its  death, 
he  took  a  knife  and  cut  open  its  throat.  How  great  was  his  astonishment 
on  doing  this,  to  find  a  small  diamond  bracelet  fall  into  his  hand!  His 
wife  gazed  at  it  in  amazement.  "Didn't  I  tell  you,"  he  asked,  in  grateful 
gladness,  "that  the  Lord  will  help?" 

He  went  to  the  nearest  jeweler's,  and  telling  how  he  had  found  the 
piecious  jewels,  borrowed  some  money  on  them.  (3n  making  inquiry  about 
it,  it  turned  out  that  the  bracelet  belonged  to  the  wife  of  the  good  wea- 
ver's late  employer.  It  had  suddenly  disappeared  from  her  chamber. 
One  of  the  servants  had  been  charged  with  stealing  it,  and  had  been  dis- 
missed. On  hearing  how  the  bracelet  had  disappeared,  and  how  strangely 
it  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  his  late  worthy  workman,  the  gentleman 
was  very  much  touched ;  and  not  only  rewarded  him  liberally  for  return- 
ing it — but  took  him  back  into  his  employ,  and  said  he  should  never  want 
work  again  so  long  as  he  had  any  to  give. 

How  willing,  and  how  able  our  glorious  Saviour  is,  to  help  those  who 
trust  in  him! 

The  Sailor  Boys  Belief. — One  night  there  was  a  terrible  storm  at 
sea.  All  at  once  a  ship,  which  was  tossing  on  the  waves,  keeled  over 
on  her  beam  ends.  "She'll  never  right  again!"  exclaimed  the  captain. 
"We  shall  all  be  lost!" 

"  Not  at  all,  sir !"  cried  a  pious  sailor  boy  who  was  near  the  captain. 


n 

to 

c 


J3 


566  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

"What's  to  hinder  it?"  asked  the  captain.  " Why  you  see  sir,"  said  the 
boy,  "  they  are  praying  at  this  very  moment  in  the  Bethel  ship  at  Glasgow 
for  all  sailors  in  danger :  and  I  feel  sure  that  God  will  hear  their  prayers  : 
Now  see,  sir,  if  he  don't !" 

These  words  were  hardly  out  of  the  boy's  mouth,  before  a  great  wave 
struck  the  ship,  and  set  her  right  up  again.  And  then  a  shout  of  praise, 
louder  than  the  howling  of  the  storm,  went  up  to  God  from  the  deck  of 
that  saved  ship. 

And  so,  in  the  miracles  that  he  performed,  one  thing  that  Jesus 
taught  was  his  power  to  help. 

///  tJic  next  place,  among  the  miracles  of  Clin'st,  we  find  some  that 
were  performed  in  order  to  teach  us  his  power  to — comfort. 

One  day,  a  great  multitude  of  people  waited  on  Jesus  from  morning 
till  evening,  to  listen  to  his  preaching.  They  were  so  anxious  to  hear 
that  even  when  hungry  they  would  not  go  away  to  get  food.  As  the 
evening  came  on,  the  disciples  asked  their  master  to  send  the  people 
away  to  get  something  to  eat.  But  Jesus  told  them  to  give  the  people 
food.  They  said  they  had  only  five  loaves  and  two  fishes.  Jesus  told 
them  to  make  the  people  sit  down  on  the  grass.  And  when  they  were 
seated  he  took  the  loaves  and  blessed,  and  brake  them,  and  gave  them  to 
the  disciples,  and  they  gave  them  to  the  people.  And  great  as  that 
multitude  was  the  supply  did  not  fail.  This  was  wonderful!  Those 
loaves  were  very  small.  They  were  not  bigger  than  a  good-sized  roll. 
The  whole  of  the  five  loaves  and  two  fishes  would  not  have  been  enough 
to  make  a  meal  for  a  dozen  men.  And  yet  they  were  made  sufficient  to 
feed  more  than  five  thousand  hungry  people.  How  strange  this  was ! 
The  mighty  power  of  Jesus  did  it.  We  are  not  told  just  where,  in  the 
interesting  scene,  this  wonder-working  power  was  put  forth.  It  may 
have  been  that  as  Jesus  brake  the  loaves,  and  gave  the  pieces  to  the 
disciples,  the  part  left  in  his  hands  grew  out  at  once,  to  the  same  size  that 
it  was  before.  Or  the  broken  pieces  may  have  increased,  and  multiplied, 
while  the  disciples  w^ere  engaged  in  distributing  them.  It  is  most  likely 
that  the  miracle  took  place  in  immediate  connection  with  Jesus  himself 
The  power  that  did  it  w^as  his :  and  in  his  hands,  we  may  suppose  that 
the  wonderful  work  was  done.     As   fast  as  he  broke  the  loaves  they  in- 


I 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES. 


567 


Lord,  save  us,  we  perish. 


creased,  till  all  the  people  were  fed  This  was  indeed  not  one  miracle, 
but  a  multitude  of  miracles,  all  performed  at  once.  The  hungry  multi- 
tude ate  till  they  were  satisfied:  and  yet  the  fragments  left  filled  twelve 


568  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

baskets.  Five  thousand  men  were  fed,  and  then  there  was  twelve  times  as 
much  food  left  as  there  was  before  they  began  to  eat.  All  this  was  done 
to  satisfy  that  hungry  crowd,  and  to  teach  them,  and  us,  what  power  this 
glorious  Saviour  has  to  comfort  those  who  are  in  need,  or  trouble. 

And  when  he  healed  the  daughter  of  the  Syrophoenician  woman,  as 
we  read  in  St.  Matth.  xii :  21-28;  when  he  healed  the  lunatic  child,  as  we 
read  in  St.  Matth.  xvii:  14-21  ;  and  when  he  raised  Lazarus  from  the  dead, 
after  he  had  lain  four  days  in  the  grave,  as  we  read  in  St.  John  xi:  1-54, 
he  was  working  miracles  to  show  his  power  to   comfort  those  in  trouble. 

And  we  see  him  using  his  power  still  to  comfort  persons  who  are  in 
distress.     Here  are  some  illustrations  of  the  way  in  which  he  does  this: — 

Shilling  ill  every  JVindoiv. — A  Christian  lady,  who  spent  much  time 
in  visiting  aniong  the  poor,  went  one  day  to  see  a  poor  young  girl,  who 
was  kept  at  home  by  a  broken  limb.  Her  room  was  on  the  north  side  of 
the  house.  It  did  not  look  pleasant  without,  or  cheerful  within.  "  Poor 
girl !"  she  said  to  herself,  "  what  a  dreary  time  she  must  have  !"  On  en- 
tering her  room  she  said, 

"  I  am  sorry,  my  friend,  that  your  room  is  not  on  the  other  side  of 
the  house,  where  the  sun  could  shine  upon  you.  You  never  can  have 
any  sunshine  here." 

"  Oh,  you  are  mistaken,"  she  said :  "  the  sunshine  pours  in  at  every 
window,  and  through  every  crack." 

The  lady  looked  surprised. 

"  I  mean  that  Jesus,  '  the  Sun  of  righteousness,'  shines  in  here,  and 
makes  everything  bright  to  me." 

Here  we  see  Jesus  showing  his  power  to  comfort. 

Ice  in  Suinnicr.- — Some  years  ago  a  Christian  merchant,  in  one  of  our 
eastern  cities,  failed  in  business,  and  lost  everything  he  had.  After  talk- 
ing over  their  affairs  with  his  wife,  who  was  a  good  Christian  woman,  they 
concluded  to  move  out  to  the  west  and  begin  life  again  there.  He 
bought  some  land  on  the  wide  rolling  prairie ;  built  a  log  cabin,  and  be- 
gan to  cultivate  his  farm.  In  the  midst  of  the  second  summer,  hard  work 
and  exposure  to  the  sun,  brought  on  an  attack  of  sickness,  and  a  raging 
fever  set  in.  They  were  twelve  miles  away  from  the  nearest  town.  One 
of  the  neighbors  went  there,  and  came  back  with  a  doctor.     He  examined 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES. 


569 


the  case  very  carefully,  and  left  some  medicine  with  them,  and  told  them 
what  to  do.  He  said  it  was  a  very  dangerous  attack.  If  they  could  only 
get  some  ice  to  apply  to  the  burning  brow  of  the  sick  man,  he  thought 
he  might  get  over  it;  but,  without  that,  there  was  very  little  prospect 
of  his  recover)^ 


He  had  commanded  the  Unclean  Spirit  to  come  out. 


As  soon  as  the  doctor  was  gone,  the  sorrowful  wife  gathered  her 
family  and  friends  round  the  bedside  of  her  sick  husband,  and  kneeled 
down  with  them  in  prayer.  She  told  God  what  the  doctor  had  said,  and 
prayed  very  earnestly  that  he  who  has  the  power  to  do  everything,  would 
send  them  some  ice. 

When  the  prayer  was  over,  some  of  the  neighbors  whispered  to  each 
other  that  the  poor  distressed  woman  must  be  losing  her  mind.     "  The 


570  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


idea  of  getting  ice  here,"  they  said,  "when  every  body  knows  there  isn't 
a  bit  of  ice  in  all  the  country !  It  would  be  contrary  to  all  the  laws  of 
nature  to  have  ice  in  summer." 

The  wife  of  the  sick  man  heard  their  remarks,  but  they  did  not  shake 
her  faith  in  God,  and  in  the  power  of  prayer.  Silently,  but  earnestly,  her 
heart  breathed  forth  the  cry  for  ice. 

As  the  day  wore  on,  heavy  clouds  began  to  gather  in  the  western  sky. 
They  rolled  in  darkness  over  the  heavens.  The  distant  thunder  was 
heard  to  mutter.  Nearer  and  louder  it  was  heard.  The  lightning  began 
to  flash.  Presently  the  storm  burst  in  its  fury.  It  came  first  in  rain,  and 
then  in  hail.  The  hail-stones  came  in  lumps  of  ice  as  big  as  eggs.  They 
lay  thick  in  the  furrows  of  the  field.  The  thankful  wife  went  out,  and 
soon  came  in  rejoicing  with  a  bucket  full  of  ice  It  was  applied  in  bags 
to  her  husband's  head.  The  fever  broke,  and  he  was  restored  to  life  and 
health. 

This  grateful  w^oman  never  troubled  herself  with  any  questions  about 
whether  it  was  a  miracle  or  not.  She  only  knew  that  she  had  prayed 
for  ice  in  summer,  and  that  the  ice  had  come.  And  her  faith  was  stronger 
than  ever  that  the  gjacious  Saviour,  who  did  so  many  miracles  when  he 
was  on  earth,  has  just  the  same  power  now  to  comfort  his  people  when 
they  are  in  trouble. 

/;/  the  third  place,  we  see  yesits  performing  miracles  to  teach  us  ivhai 
power  he  has  to — encourage — his  people. 

We  have  an  account  in  St.  Luke  xiii :  10-17,  of  the  miracle  he  per- 
formed on  the  woman  who  had  "a  spirit  of  infirmity."  This  means  that 
she  was  a  cripple.  Her  body  was  bound  down,  so  that  she  had  no  power 
to  straighten  herself,  or  to  stand  upright.  She  had  been  in  this  condition 
we  are  told  for  eighteen  years.  How  hard  to  bear — and  how  discouraging 
this  trial  must  have  been  to  her!  No  doctor  could  give  her  any  relief, 
and  she  had  made  up  her  mind,  no  doubt,  that  there  was  no  relief  for  her 
till  death  came.  But  when  Jesus  saw  her,  he  pitied  her.  A  miracle  of 
healing  was  performed  upon  her.  He  laid  his  loving  hand  upon  her  bent 
and  crippled  body,  and  in  a  moment  her  disease  was  removed.  She 
stood  straight  up,  and  glorified  God.  What  encouragement  that  must 
have  given  to  her  I 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES. 


D/ 


One  day,  when  Jesus  was  at  Capernaum,  the  tax-gatherers  came  to 
Peter  to  get  the  tribute,  or  tax-money  that  was  due  to  the  Roman  govern- 
ment, for  himself,  and  his  master.  But,  it  happened  so,  that  neither  of 
them  had  money  enough  with  which  to  pay  that  tax'.  Peter  went  into 
the  presence  of  Jesus  to  speak  to  him  about  this  matter.  But  Jesus 
knowing  ^\■hat  was  in  his  mind,  before  Peter  had  time  to  say  anything  on 
the  subject,  told  him  what  to  do.  He  directed  him  to  take  his  fishing-line 
and  go  to  the  lake,  and  cast  in  his  line,  and  catch  the  first  fish  that 
should  bite ;  and  said  that  in  its  mouth  he  would  find  a  piece  of  money 
with  which  he  might  pay  the  tribute  that  ^^■as  due  for  them  both. 


.A.  vessel  of  the  navy  lu  the  Thames. 

Peter  went.  He  threw  in  his  line.  He  soon  caught  a  fish.  He 
looked  in  the  fish's  mouth,  and  lo!  there  was  a  piece  of  money  called  a 
stater.  It  was  worth  about  sixty  cents  of  our  money,  and  was  just 
enough  to  pay  the  tribute  for  two  persons.  How  wonderful  this  was ! 
If  Jesus  made  this  piece  of  money  in  the  mouth  of  the  fish,  at  the  time 
when  Peter  caught  it,  how  wonderful  his  power  must  be !  And  if,  without 
making  it  then,  he  knew  that  that  one  fish,  the  only  one  in  the  sea,  pro- 
bably, that  had  such  a  piece  of  money  in  its  mouth,  would  be  the  first  to 
bite  at  Peter's  line,  then  how  wonderful  his  knowledge  must  be! 


572  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Peter  would  not  be  likely  to  forget  that  day's  fishing  as  long  as  he 
lived.  And  when  he  thought  of  the  illustration  it  afforded  of  the  wonder- 
ful power,  and  the  wonderful  knowledge  of  the  master  whom  he  was 
serving,  what  encouragement  that  would  give  him  in  his  work ! 

And  Jesus  is  constantly  doing  things  to  encourage  those  who  are 
trying  to  serve  him. 

Let  us  look  at  some  of  the  ways  in  which  this  is  done.  Our  first  il- 
lustration is  from  the  life  of  Washington  Allston,  the  great  American 
painter.     We  may  call  it : — 

Praying  for  Bread. — Fifty  years  ago  Mr.  Allston  was  considered 
one  of  the  greatest  artists  in  this  country.  At  the  time  to  which  our  story 
refers,  he  was  living  in  London.  Then  he  was  so  poor  that  he  and  his 
wife  had  not  a  morsel  of  bread  to  eat;  nor  a  penny  left  with  which  to  buy 
any.  In  great  discouragement  he  went  into  his  studio,  locked  the  door, 
and  throwing  himself  on  his  knees,  he  told  the  Lord  his  trouble,  and 
prayed  earnestly  for  relief 

While  he  was  still  upon  his  knees,  a  knock  was  heard  at  the  door. 
He  arose  and  opened  the  door.     A  stranger  stood  there. 

"  I  wish  to  see  Mr.  Allston,"  said  he. 

"  I  am  Mr.  Allston,"  replied  Mr.  A. 

"Pray  tell  me,  sir,  who  has  purchased  your  fine  painting  of  the  'An- 
gel Uriel,'  which  won  the  prize  at  the  exhibition  of  the  Royal  Academy !" 

"That  painting  has  not  been  sold,"  said  Mr.  A. 

"Where  is  it  to  be  found  ?" 

"  In  this  very  room/'  said  the  artist,  bringing  a  painting  from  the  cor- 
ner, and  wiping  off  the  dust. 

"What  is  the  price  of  it?"  asked  the  gentleman. 

"I  have  done  fixing  a  price  on  it,"  said  Mr.  A.,  "for  I  have  always 
asked  more  than  people  were  willing  to  give." 

"  Will  four  hundred  pounds  be  enough  for  it  ?"  was  the  next  ques  • 
tion. 

"  That  is  more  than  I  ever  asked." 

"Then  the  painting  is  mine,"  said  the  stranger,  who  introduced  him- 
self as  the  Marquis  of  Stafford;  and  from  that  day  he  became  one  of  Mr. 
AUston's  warmest  friends. 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES. 


573 


What  a  lesson  of  encouragement  the  great  painter  learned  that  day, 
when  he  asked  for  bread,  and  while  he  was  asking,  received  help  that 
followed  him  all  his  days! 

The  Hushed  Tempest. — A  minister  of  the  gospel  in  Canada,  gives 
this  account  of  a  lesson  of  encouragement  to  trust  God  in  trouble,  which 
he  once  received. 


A  Summer  Storm. 


It  was  in  the  year  1853,  about  the  middle  of  the  winter  that  we  had  a 
succession  of  snow-storms,  followed  by  high  winds,  and  severe  cold.  I 
was  getting  ready  to  haul  my  supply  of  wood  for  the  rest  of  the  wmter. 
I  had  engaged  a  man  to  go  out  the  day  before  and  cut  the  wood  and 
have  it  ready  to  haul.  I  borrowed  a  sled  and  two  horses  from  a  neighbor 
and  started  early  in  the  morning  to  haul  the  wood.  Just  as  I  reached  the 
place,  it  began  to  snow  hard.     The  wind  blew  such  a  gale  that  it  was  im- 


574  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


possible  to  go  on  with  the  work.  What  was  I  to  do  ?  If  it  kept  on 
snowing,  I  knew  the  roads  would  be  impassable  by  the  next  day.  Besides 
that  was  the  only  day  on  which  I  could  get  the  help  of  the  man  or  the 
team.  Unless  I  secured  the  wood  that  day  it  would  not  be  in  my  power 
to  get  the  fuel  we  needed  for  the  rest  of  the  winter.  I  thought  of  that 
sweet  promise,  "  Call  on  me,  in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  I  will  deliver 
thee."   Ps.  1:  15. 

I  kneeled  down  amid  the  drifting  snow,  and  said,  "  O,  my  God,  this 
is  a  day  of  trouble  to  me.  Lord  help  me.  The  elements  are  subject  to  thy 
will :  Thou  holdest  the  winds  in  thy  hands.  If  thou  wilt  speak  the  word, 
there  will  be  a  great  calm.  O  Lord,  for  the  sake  of  my  helpless  little 
ones,  let  this  snow  lie  still,  and  give  me  the  opportunity  of  doing  what  I 
came  to  do,  and  what  it  is  so  necessary  to  do  to-day,  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen  !  " 

I  do  not  think  it  was  more  than  fifteen  minutes  from  the  time  I  be- 
gan to  pray,  before  there  was  a  visible  change.  The  wind  became  more 
moderate;  the  sky  grew  calm  ;  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  all  was  still; 
and  a  more  pleasant  time  for  wood-hauling  than  we  had  that  day  I  never 
saw,  nor  desire  to  see.  While  I  live,  I  never  shall  forget  the  lesson  of 
encouragement  to  trust  in  God  that  was  taught  me  on  that  day.  And 
this  was  one  of  the  lessons  Jesus  taught  us  by  his  miracles. 

/;/-  the  fourth  place,  among  the  miracles  of  yesns  we  see  some  that 
were  intended  to  teach  us  his  power  to — protect — his  people. 

And  there  is  no  lesson  that  we  more  need  to  be  taught  than  this; 
because  we  are  exposed  to  many  dangers,  from  which  we  are  too  weak  to 
protect  ourselves. 

One  day,  Jesus  went  into  the  house  of  the  apostle  Peter,  and  found 
the  family  in  great  distress,  because  the  mother  of  Peter's  wife  was  very 
ill,  and  in  danger  of  dying.  We  judge  from  the  history  that  she  was  the 
head  of  the  family.  Her  death  would  have  been  a  great  loss  to  them  all, 
and  yet  it  seemed  as  if  no  human  power  could  protect  them  from  that 
loss.  But  Jesus  performed  a  miracle  to  save  them  from  this  threatened 
danger.  He  went  into  the  room  where  she  lay.  He  put  his  healing 
hands  upon  her,  and  at  once  she  was  well.  Immediately  she  rose  up  from 
that  sick  bed,  and  took  her  place  in  the  family,  and  waited  on  Jesus. 


CHRIST  TEACHING    BY  MIRACLES. 


575 


On  another  occasion  he  was  crossing  the  sea  of  Galilee  with  his  dis- 
ciples. Weary  with  the  work  of  love  in  which  he  had  been  engaged,  he 
laid  down  in  the  hinder  part  of  the  ship  and  fell  asleep.  While  he  was 
lying  there  a  sudden  storm  burst  upon  the  sea.  The  wind  howled  in 
its  fury.  The  angry  waves  rose  in  their  might  and  dashed  against  the 
vessel  in  hissing  foam.     The  ship  was  full  of  water,  and  in  danger  ol 


A  man,  sick  of  the  palsy. 


sinking.  The  terrified  disciples  came  to  their  sleeping  Master  with  the 
earnest  cry: — "  Lord  save  us  :  we  perish."  He  heard  their  cry.  He  rose 
at  once.  Quietly  he  took  his  stand  by  the  side  of  the  storm-tossed  vessel. 
He  rebuked  the  winds,  and  said  unto  the  sea:—"  Peace:  be  still."  They 
recognized  their  Master's  voice  and  obeyed.  "  The  wind  ceased,  and  im- 
mediately there  was  a  great  calm." 


576  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

As  long  as  those  disciples  lived  they  never  would  forget  the  lesson 
he  taught  them  by  that  miracle  of  his  power  to  protect  in  danger. 

And  then  many  of  the  miracles  of  our  Saviour  were  performed  for  the 
purpose  of  showing  what  power  he  had  to  protect  his  people  from  Satan, 
and  the  evil  spirits  that  serve  him.  It  pleased  God  to  allow  these  evil 
spirits  to  have  more  power  over  men,  during  the  time  when  Jesus  was  on 
earth,  than  they  had  before,  or  than  they  have  now.  We  often  read  in 
the  gospels  of  men  who  were  "  possessed  of  devils."  This  means  that  the 
evil  spirits  entered  into  the  bodies  of  these  men,  and  used  them  as  their 
own ;  just  as  you,  or  I,  might  go  into  an  empty  house,  and  use  it  as  if  it 
belonged  to  us.  But  Jesus  performed  a  number  of  miracles  to  show  that 
he  was  able  to  control  those  spirits ;  to  cast  them  out  of  the  bodies  of  men 
and  to  protect  his  people  from  their  power.  We  have  an  account  of  one 
of  these  miracles  in  St.  Matth.  viii :  28,  34;  of  another  in  St.  Mark  v:  i- 
20;  and  of  another  in  St.  Luke  viii:  26-39. 

The  Bible  speaks  of  Satan  "  going  about,  like  a  roaring  lion,  seeking 
whom  he  may  devour."  i  Peter  v  :  8.  But  he  is  a  chained  lion :  and  Jesus 
holds  the  chain.  If  we  are  trying  to  love  and  serve  Jesus,  we  need  not 
be  afraid  of  this  roaring  lion.  He  cannot  touch  us  till  our  Saviour  gives 
him  permission  ;  and  he  will  not  let  him  hurt  us.  We  see  this  illustrated 
in  Job's  case.  Satan  wanted  very  much  to  injure  Job  in  some  way.  But 
he  could  not  do  it.  And  the  reason  of  it  was,  as  he  said  himself,  that 
God  had  "  put  an  hedge  about  him,  and  about  his  house,  and  about  all 
that  he  had  on  every  side."  Job  i:  10.  This  hedge,  or  fence,  means  the 
power  which  Jesus  exercises  to  protect  his  people  from  the  harm  that  Sa- 
tan desires  to  do  to  them.  In  this  way  he  protected  Job.  And  in  this 
way  he  protects  all  who  love  and  serve  him. 

Let  us  take  an  illustration  or  two  to  show  how  he  is  doing  this  con- 
tinually. 

Providential  Deliverauce. — One  of  the  best  men,  and  one  of  the  most 
useful  ministers  in  London,  during  the  last  century,  was  the  Rev.  John 
Newton.  Before  entering  the  ministry  he  held  an  office  under  the  gov- 
ernment. One  of  the  duties  of  this  office  was  for  him  to  visit  and  inspect 
the  vessels  of  the  navy,  as  they  lay  at  anchor  in  the  river  Thames.  One 
day  he  was  going  out  to  visit  a  man-of-war  that  lay  there.     He  was  a 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES. 


517 


very  punctual  man.  When  he  had  an  engagement  he  was  always  ready 
at  the  very  moment.  But  when  he  reached  the  dock,  on  this  occasion, 
the  boat  which  was  to  take  him  off  to  the  man-of-war,  was  not  there.  He 
was  obliged  to  wait  five,  ten,  fifteen  minutes  before  the  boat  came.  This 
displeased  him  very  much.  But  the  hand  of  God  was  in  this  delay.  For, 
just  as  the  boat  was  leaving  the  dock,  a  spark  fell  into  the  powder  maga- 
zine on  board  the  man-of-war.  An  explosion  took  place.  The  huge  ves- 
sel was  blown  to  pieces,  and  all  the  men  on  board  of  her  were  killed. 
That  delay  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour  saved  Mr.  Newton's  life.     In  this  way 


'  Be  of  good  cheer,  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee.' 


that  gracious  Saviour  whom  he  served  protected  him  from  the  danger  to 
which  he  was  exposed. 

Willies  Heroism. — One  summer  afternoon  a  teacher  told  her  geogra- 
phy class  that  they  might  close  their  books  and  rest  a  little,  while  she  told 
them  a  story.  The  story  was  about  William  Tell,  the  famous  hero  of 
Switzerland.  She  told  the  scholars  how  a  wicked  governor  placed  an 
apple  on  the  head  of  Tells  little  boy,  and  then  compelled  the  father  to 
take  his.  bow  and  arrow,  and  shoot  the  apple  from  the  head  of  his  son. 
He  was  very  unwilling  to  do  it,  for  he  was  afraid  the  arrow  might  miss 
and  kill  his  child.     But  the  brave  boy  stood  firm,  and  cried  out — "  Shoot, 


578  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


father!  I  am  not  afraid."  He  took  a  steady  aim;  fired,  and  knocked  the 
apple  off  without  hurting  his  son. 

Just  as  the  teacher  was  telling  this  story  a  sudden  storm  burst  from 
the  sky.  There  was  a  flash  of  lightning,  and  a  loud  crash  of  thunder. 
Some  of  the  children  screamed,  and  began  to  cry,  and  ran  to  the  teacher 
for  protection.  But  a  little  boy  named  Willie  Hawthorne,  kept  his  seat, 
and  went  on  quietly  studying  his  lesson. 

When  the  storm  was  over  the  teacher  said, 

"Willie  why  were  you  not  afraid  like  the  other  children  ?" 

"  Because,"  said  he,  "  I  knew  the  lightning  was  only  an  arrow  in  my 
Heavenly  Father's  hand,  and  why  should  I  be  afraid  ?" 

How  well  Willie  had  learned  the  lesson  which  Jesus  taught  his  dis- 
ciples when  he  performed  so  many  miracles  to  show  what  power  he  has 
to  protect  his  people  from  danger ! 

Here  is  just  one  other  story  to  illustrate  this  truth.    We  may  call  it — 

The  Widow  s  7>^^.— Some  years  ago  a  violent  storm,  with  wind  and 
thunder,  swept  through  the  valley  of  Yellow  Creek,  in  Indiana  County, 
Georgia.  For  more  than  a  mile  in  width  trees  were  uprooted,  houses, 
barns,  and  fences  were  thrown  down,  and  ruin  and  desolation  were  spread 
all  over  the  land. 

In  the  centre  of  the  region  over  which  this  hurricane  swept  stood  a 
small  cabin.  It  was  occupied  by  an  aged  Christian  widow,  with  her  only 
son.  The  terrible  wind  struck  a  large  tree  in  front  of  her  humble  dwell- 
ing, twisting,  and  dashing  it  about.  If  the  tree  should  fall  it  would  crush 
her  home,  and  probably  kill  herself  and  son.  The  storm  howled  and 
raged,  and  the  big  trees  were  falling  on  every  hand.  In  the  midst  of  all 
the  danger  the  widow  knelt  in  prayer,  and  asked  God  to  spare  that  tree, 
and  protect  her  home,  and  save  her  own  life,  and  that  of  her  son  Her 
prayer  was  heard.  And  when  the  storm  was  over,  the  widow's  tree  was 
spared,  and  strange  as  it  may  seem,  was  the  only  one  left  amidst  that 
scene  of  desolation.  There  it  stood,  as  if  on  purpose  to  show  what  power 
our  loving  Saviour  has  to  protect  from  danger  those  who  trust  in  him  ! 

Bitt,  in  the  last  place,  we  see  that  yeszis  performed  some  of  his  mira- 
cles for  the  purpose  of  teaching  ns  that  he  has  power  to — pardon. 

A  man  was  brought  him,  one  day,  who  was  sick  of  the  palsy.     His 


CHRIST  TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES.  579 

limbs  were  helpless.  He  was  not  able  to  come  to  Jesus  himself,  so  his 
friends  carried  him  on  a  bed.  At  this  time  Jesus  was  preaching  in  the 
yard,  or  court  connected  with  some  rich  man's  house.  In  those  eastern 
countries  the  houses  were  not  built  as  ours  are,  with  a  yard  back  of 
them.  There  is  a  square  yard  in  the  centre,  and  the  house  is  built 
round  the  four  sides  of  this  square.  This  open  space  is  generally  used 
as  a  garden.  It  has  a  fountain  playing  in  it,  and  a  covering  of  cloth  or 
mats  spread  over  it  to  keep  off  the  sun.  It  was  in  one  of  these  open 
courts  that  Jesus  was  preaching  on  this  occasion.  A  great  crowd  had 
gathered  round  him,  so  that  the  friends  of  the  palsied  man  could  not 
get  near  him  with  the  bed  on  which  the  sufferer  lay.  Then  they  con- 
cluded to  carry  him  up  to  the  top  of  the  house,  and  lower  him  down  in- 
side. This  would  not  be  easy  to  do  with  us.  But  the  eastern  houses 
are  not  so  high  as  ours.  And  then  they  have  flat  roofs,  and  a  flight  of 
steps  leading  from  the  ground,  on  the  outside,  to  the  top  of  the  house. 
This  made  it  very  easy  to  get  up.  When  they  were  on  the  roof  they  re- 
moved the  covering  from  the  inner  court,  and  let  down  the  bed,  with  the 
sick  man  on  it,  directly  in  front  of  our  Saviour.  When  he  saw  him  he 
pitied  him,  and  said,  "  Son,  be  of  good  cheer;  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee." 
The  people  were  surprised  at  this.  The  Pharisees  said  among  themselves 
"  This  man  blasphemeth."  Jesus  knew  their  thoughts,  and  told  them  it 
was  as  easy  for  him  to  heal  the  souls  of  men,  as  it  was  to  heal  their  bodies. 
And  then,  to  show  them  that  he  had  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins,  he 
said  to  the  sick  man — "  Arise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go  unto  thine  house. 
And  he  arose,  and  went  to  his  house."  Matth.  ix:  1-8.  Certainly  the  ob- 
ject Jesus  had  in  view,  in  performing  this  miracle,  was  to  prove  that  he 
had  power  to  forgvie  sins  ;  or  to  pardon. 

And  when  he  healed  the  leper  it  was  to  teach  us  the  same  great 
truth.  This  disease  was  not  only  like  all  other  diseases,  the  result  of  sin; 
but,  unlike  most  other  diseases,  it  was  a  type,  or  figure  of  sin.  It  affected 
the  body  as  sin  affects  the  soul.  And  then,  leprosy  was  a  disease  which 
none  but  God  cculd  cure ;  just  as  sin  is  an  offence  which  none  but  God, 
our  Saviour  can  pardon.  And  so  Jesus  performed  the  miracle  of  healing 
the  palsied  man,  and  the  lepers,  in  order  to  teach  his  disciples  the  great 
lesson  that  he  "  had  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins." 


5 So  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

And  he  has  the  same  power  still.  Here  are  some  illustrations  of  the 
way  in  which  he  exercises  this  power  now. 

No  Pardon  but  from  yesus. — There  was  a  heathen  man  in  India 
once,  who  felt  that  he  was  a  sinner,  and  longed  to  obtain  pardon.  The 
priests  had  sent  him  to  their  most  famous  temples,  all  over  the  country, 
but  he  could  get  no  pardon,  and  find  no  peace.  He  had  fasted  till  he 
was  about  worn  to  a  skeleton,  and  had  done  many  painful  things — but 
pardon  and  peace  he  could  not  find.  At  last  he  was  told  to  put  pebbles 
in  his  shoes,  and  travel  to  a  distant  temple,  and  make  an  offering  there; 
and  he  would  find  peace.  He  went.  He  made  the  offering;  but  still  he 
found  no  relief  from  the  burden  of  his  sins. 

Sad,  and  sorrowful,  he  was  returning  home  with  the  pebbles  still  in 
his  shoes.  Wearied  with  his  journey,  he  halted  one  day  in  the  shade  of 
a  grove,  by  the  wayside,  where  a  company  of  people  was  gathered  round 
a  stranger  who  was  addressing  them.  It  was  a  Christian  missionary 
preaching  the  gospel.  The  heathen  listened  with  great  interest.  The 
missionary  was  preaching  from  the  words : — "  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
cleanseth  from  all  sin."  He  showed  what  power  Jesus  had  to  forgive  sins; 
and  how  able  and  willing  he  is  to  save  all  who  come  unto  him.  The 
heart  of  the  poor  heathen  was  drawn  to  this  loving  and  glorious  Saviour. 
He  took  off  his  shoes  and  threw  away  the  pebbles,  saying  "  This  is  the 
Saviour  I  have  long  sought  in  vain.  Thank  God  1  I  have  found  salvation!" 

Here  is  one  more  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  Jesus  pardons  our 
sins,  and  of  the  effect  which  that  pardon  has  on  those  who  receive  it.  We 
may  call  it — 

Pardon  and  Peace. — An  officer  who  held  a  high  position  under  the 
government  of  his  country,  and  was  a  favorite  with  the  king,  was  once 
brought  before  the  judge,  and  charged  with  a  great  crime.  He  took  his 
place  at  the  bar  with  the  greatest  coolness,  and  looked  at  the  judge  and 
jury,  and  the  great  crowd  of  spectators  as  calmly  as  if  he  were  at  home, 
surrounded  by  his  own  family. 

The  trial  began.  The  witnesses  were  called  up,  and  gave  clear  evi- 
dence that  he  was  guilty.  Still  he  remained  as  calm  and  unmoved  as 
ever.  There  was  not  the  least  sign  of  fear  visible  on  his  countenance  ;  on 
the  contrary,  his  face  wore  a  pleasant  smile. 


CHRIST   TEACHING  BY  MIRACLES.  581 

At  last  the  jury  came  in,  and  while  the  crowd  in  the  court-room  held 
their  breath,  declared  that  the  prisoner  was  guilty.  In  an  instant  every 
eye  was  turned  upon  the  prisoner  to  see  what  effect  this  sentence  would 
have  upon  him.  But  just  then,  he  put  his  hand  in  his  bosom,  drew  out  a 
paper,  and  laid  it  on  the  table.  It  was  a  pardon,  a  full,  free  pardon  of  all 
his  offences,  given  him  by  the  king,  and  sealed  with  the  royal  signet. 
This  was  the  secret  of  his  peace.  This  was  what  gave  him  such  calmness 
and  confidence  in  his  dreadful  position  as  a  condemned  prisoner. 

And  so  Jesus  gives  his  people  pardon  in  such  promises  as  these : 
"  Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  white  as  snow :  though 
they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool."  Isaiah  i:  16.  Let  them 
return  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  will  abundantly  pardon^  Isaiah  Iv :  7.  "All 
that  believe  are  justified  from  all  things."  Acts  xiii :  39.  These  prom- 
ises are  like  the  king's  pardon  which  the  officer  had  received.  Faith  in 
these  promises  brings  pardon,  and  the  pardon  brings  peace.  And  so,  by 
what  he  is  doing  now,  as  well  as  by  the  miracles  he  performed  when  on 
earth,  we  are  taught  the  precious  truth,  that — "  The  Son  of  man  hath 
power  to  forgive  sins." 

Then  when  we  think  of  the  wonderful  miracles  that  Jesus  did,  let  us 
always  remember  the  illustrations  they  afford  of  the  power  he  had  to  help 
— to  comfort — to  encourage — to  protect — and  to  pardon. 

Let  us  seek  to  secure  all  these  blessings  to  ourselves,  and  then  we 
shall  find  that  what  Jesus  taught  by  his  miracles  will  be  very  profitable 
teaching  to  us  1 


CHRIST  TEACHING  LIBERALITY. 


WE  should  attempt  to  men- 
tion all  the  parables  which 
Jesus  spoke,  and  the  mira- 
cles which  he  performed, 
and  the  many  other  lessons 
which  he  taught,  it  would 
make  a  long  list.  As  we 
have  done  before  we  can  only 
take  one  or  two  specimens  of 
these  general  lessons  which 
Jesus  taught. 

We  have  one  of  these 
in   the  title  to   our  present 
chapter,    which    is  —  Christ 
Teaching  Liberality.     This 
was  a  very  important  lesson 
for  Jesus  to  teach.     One  of 
the  sad  effects  of  sin  upon 
our  nature  is  to  make  it  sel- 
fish, and  covetous.     We  are 
tempted  to  love  money  more 
than  we  ought  to  do.     We 
are  not  as  willing  to  part  with  it  as  we  should  be.     And  we  never  can  be 
good  and  true  Christians  unless  we  overcome  the  selfi-shness  of  our  sinful 
hearts,  and  not  only  learn    to  give,  but   to    give   liberally.     The    Bible 
582 


s,  JjtffS!^.  g 


fleiNEDUNIOJOy 


TJHIIE  WroOW'S  MITEc 


CHRIST  TEACHING  LIBERALITY.  583 


teaches  us  that  God  not  only  expects  his  people  to  give,  but,  as  St.  Paul 
says,  in  one  place,  to  give  ''cheerfully^     2  Cor.  ix.  7. 

And  this  is  the  lesson  Jesus  taught  when  he  said  to  his  disciples,— 
"Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you;  good  measure,  pressed  down,  and 
shaken  together,  and  running  over,  shall  men  give  into  your  bosoms." 
St.  Luke  vi :  38. 

And  when  we  come  to  consider  these  words  of  Jesus,  there  are  three 
things  to  engage  our  attention.  The  first  of  these  is  the — Lesson  of 
Liberality — here  set  before  us. 

The  second  is — The  Proof — that  this  lesson  is  taught  all  through  the 
Bible. 

And  the  third  is — The  Illustrations — of  this  lesson. 

And  then,  when  put  into  its  shortest  form,  our  present  subject  maybe 
thus  expressed — the  lesson  of  liberality  ;  its  proof s  ;  audits  illustrations. 

And  the  lesson  which  Jesus  here  taught  is  all  wrapped  up  in  this 
little  word — "  Give!'  Here  we  learn  what  the  will  of  Jesus  is  on  this 
subject.  This  is  not  simply  the  expression  of  his  opinion.  It  is  not 
merely  his  advice ;  no,  but  it  is  his  command.  He  is  speaking  here  as 
our  Master — our  King — our  God.  He  commands  us  to — give.  And 
when  we  remember  how  he  said  to  his  disciples,  "  If  ye  love  me,  keep  my 
commandments  I'  we  see  plainly,  that  we  have  no  right  to  consider  our- 
selves as  his  disciples,  if  we  are  neglecting  this,  or  any  other  of  his  plain 
commands. 

And  this  command  about  giving  is  not  intended  for  any  one  class  of 
persons,  among  the  followers  of  Christ,  but  for  all  of  them.  It  is  not  a 
command  designed  for  kings,  or  princes,  or  rich  men  only,  but  for  the 
poor  as  well.  It  is  not  a  command  for  grown  persons  alone,  but  for 
children  also.    As  soon  as  we  begin  to  get,  God  expects  us  to  begin  to  give. 

Jesus  says  nothing  here  about  how  much  he  expects  us  to  give.  But, 
from  other  places  in  the  Bible,  we  learn  that  he  expects  us  to  give  at  least 
one-tenth,  of  all  that  we  have.  If  we  have  a  thousand  dollars  he  expects 
us  to  give  one  hundred  out  of  the  thousand.  If  we  have  a  hundred  he 
expects  us  to  give  ten.  If  we  have  ten  dollars  we  must  give  one  of  them 
to  God.  If  we  have  only  one  dollar  we  must  give  ten  cents  of  it  to  Him. 
If  we  have  but  ten  cents  we  must  give  one  of  them.     If  we  have  no 


584  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

money  to  give,  God  expects  us  to  give  kind  words,  and  kind  actions,  our 
sympathy  and  love. 

Jesus  does  not  tell  us  here  how  often  we  are  to  give,  but  simply — 
give.  This  means  that  we  are  to  learn  the  lesson,  and  form  the  habit  of 
giving.  His  command  is — give.  And  in  giving  us  this  command  he  is 
only  asking  us  to  imitate  his  own  example.  He  is  giving  all  the  time. 
The  apostle  Paul  tells  us  that  Jesus  is  "  exalted  to  the  right  hand  of  the 
Father  to — give."  He  never  tires  of  giving.  "  He  giveth  to  all  life, 
breath,  and  all  things."  And  if  we  have  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  in  this 
respect,  "we  are  none  of  his." 

This,  then,  is  the  lesson  of  liberality  that  Jesus  taught  when  he  said 
— "give."  And  tha.t  giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting  is  what  we  are  taught 
by  our  Saviour,  when  he  said — "Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  Jinto  yott." 

And  now,  having  seen  what  this  lesson  of  liberality  is,  which  Jesus 
taught,  let  ?is  look  at  sojne  of  the  Scripture  proofs  of  it.  The  same  lesson 
is  taught  in  other  places  in  the  Bible.  Let  us  see  what  is  said  about  it 
in  some  of  these  places. 

In  Ps.  xli :  i  David  says — "Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor: 
the  Lord  will  deliver  him  in  time  of  trouble."  Considering  the  poor  here, 
means  being  kind  to  them,  and  giving  them  such  things  as  they  need. 
And  the  blessing  promised  to  those  who  do  this  means  that  God  will 
reward  them,  by  giving  to  them  good  things  in  great  abundance.  And, 
if  this  is  so,  then  we  have  proof  here  that  "  giving  is  God's  rule  for 
getting." 

We  have  another  proof  that  "giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting,"  in 
Proverbs  iii:  9,  10.  Here  Solomon  says — "Honor  the  Lord  with  thy 
substance,  and  with  the  first-fruits  of  all  thine  increase :  So  shall  thy 
barns  be  filled  with  plenty,  and  thy  presses  shall  burst  out  with  new  wine." 

When  the  Jewish  farmers  gathered  in  their  harvests  they  were  re- 
quired to  make  an  offering  to  God,  of  what  had  been  gathered,  before 
they  used  any  part  of  it  for  themselves;  and  the  offerings  thus  made  were 
called  "  the  first-fruits."  God  considered  himself  honored  by  his  people, 
when  they  did  this,  because  they  were  keeping  his  commandments,  and 
doing  what  he  wished  them  to  do.  And  the  meaning  of  this  command, 
when  we  apply  it  to  ourselves,  is  that  we  should  give   something  to  the 


CHRIST  TEACHING   LIBERALITY. 


585 


cause  of  God  from  all  the  money,  or  property  we  have,  and  from  all  the 
gain,  or  increase  that  we  make  to  the  same.  This  is  the  Bible  rule — the 
will,  or  command  of  God  for  all  his  people.  And  then,  in  the  other  part 
of  this  passage  we  have  the  promise  of  God  to  all  who  do  this.  "  So 
shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with  plenty,  and  thy  presses  shall  burst  out  with 
new  wine." 

This  means  that  they 
shall  be  rich,  and  prosper- 
ous. And  so  we  see  that 
this  passage  from  the  book  of 
Proverbs,  teaches  the  same 
lesson  of  liberality,  that  our 
Saviour  taught  when  he  said 
— "Give  and  it  shall  be  given 
inito  yon."  It  proves  that 
"giving  is  God's  rule  for 
getting."  ■ 

And  Solomon  teaches 
the  same,  again,  when  he 
says,  "  The  liberal  soul  shall 
be  made  fat;  and  he  that 
watereth  shall  be  watered 
also  himself"     Prov.  xi :  25. 

A  "liberal  soul"  means 
a  person  who  is  in  the  habit 
of  giving;  and  to  be  "made 
fat "  means  to  be  prospered 
and  happy.  If  you  under- 
take to  water  a  garden,  you 
are   giving    to    the    thirsty 

plants  that  which  they  need  to  make  them  grow  and  thrive ;  and  when  it 
is  promised  that  the  person  who  does  this  shall  "be  watered  also  himself," 
the  meaning  is  that  he  shall  have  given  to  him  all  that  is  most  important 
to  supply  his  wants,  and  make  him  happy.  And  this,  we  see,  is  only 
teaching  what  our  Saviour  taught  when  he  said,  "Give,  and  it  shall  be 


Give  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you. 


586 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


giving  IS 


given  unto  you."      It    furnishes  us  with  another  proof   that 
God's  rule  for  getting." 

In  the  19th  chapter  of  Proverbs  and  17th  verse,  we  have  a  very 
clear  proof  of  the  lesson  we  are  now  considering.  Here  w^e  find  it  said: 
"  He  that  hath  pity  upon  the  poor,  lendeth  itiito  the  Lord ;  and  that  which 
he  hath  given  will  he  pay  hiiu  again!'  Having  pity  on  the  poor,  as  here 
spoken  of,  means  giving  them  such  things  as  they  need.     Whatever  we 

use  in  this  way  God  looks 
upon  as  so  much  money 
lent  unto  him  ;  and  we  have 
his  solemn  promise  that 
when  we  lend  anything  to 
him,  in  this  \\ay,  "He  will 
pay  us  again. '  And  when 
he  pays  again,  what  has 
been  lent  to  him,  it  is  always 
with  interest.  He  pays  back 
four,  or  five,  or  ten  times  as 
much  as  was  lent  to  him. 
This  proves  that  "  giving  is 
God's  rule  for  getting." 

One  other  passage  is 
all  that  need  be  referred  to 
in  order  to  prove  that  the 
lesson  of  liberality  which 
our  Saviour  taught  is  the 
same  lesson  which  the  Bible 
teaches  everywhere.  In 
Ecclesiastes  xi:  i,  God  says,  "  Cast  thy  bread  ?ipon  the  waters ;  for  thou 
shall  Jind  it  after  many  days!' 

If  we  should  see  a  man  standing  on  the  end  of  a  wharf  and  throwing 
bread  upon  the  waters,  we  should  think  that  he  was  a  foolish  man,  who 
was  wasting  his  bread,  or  only  feeding  the  fishes  with  it.  But  suppose 
that  you  and  I  were  travelling  through  Egypt — the  land  of  the  celebrated 
pyramids,  and  other  great  wonders.      The    famous   river  Nile  is   there. 


You  are  giving  to  the  thirsty   plants. 


CHRIST  TEACHING   LIBERAIITY.  587 

During  our  visit  the  inundation  of  that  river  takes  place.  It  overflows  its 
banks,  and  spreads  its  water  over  all  the  level  plains  that  border  on  the 
river.  This  takes  place  every  year.  And  when  the  fields  are  all  over- 
flowed with  water,  the  farmers  go  out  in  boats,  and  scatter  their  grain  over 
the  surface  of  the  water.  The  grain  sinks  to  the  bottom.  The  sediment  in 
the  water  settles  down  on  the  grain,  and  covers  it  with  mud.  By  and  by 
the  waters  flow  back  into  the  river.  The  fields  become  dry.  The  grain 
springs  up,  and  grows.  The  mud  that  covered  it  is  like  rich  manure,  and 
makes  it  grow  very  plentifully,  and  yield  a  rich  harvest.  And  here  we  see 
the  meaning  of  this  passage.  God  makes  use  of  this  Egyptian  custom  to 
teach  us  the  lesson  of  liberality  that  we  are  now  considering.  He  tells  us 
that  the  money  w^hich  we  give  to  the  poor,  or  use  to  do  good  with,  is  like 
the  grain  which  the  Egyptian  farmer  casts  upon  the  water,  and  which 
will  surely  yield  a  rich  harvest  by  and  by. 

This  teaches  us  the  lesson  of  liberality.  And  when  we  think  of  all 
these  passages,  we  see,  very  clearly,  that  the  Bible  teaches  the  same  lesson 
which  Jesus  taught  when  he  said  to  his  disciples,  "Give,  and  it  shall  be 
given  unto  you."  And  what  we  learn,  both  from  the  teaching  of  Christ, 
and  from  the  different  passages  referred  to,  is — that  "  giving  is  God's  rule 
for  getting." 

And  now,  having  seen  some  of  the  Bible  proofs  for  this  lesson  of 
liberality,  or  for  this  rule  about  giving,  and  getting,  let  us  go  on  to  speak  of 
some  of  the  /7/irstmtioiis  of  this  ride.     These  are  very  numerous. 

And  we  may  draw  our  illustrations  from  three  sources,  viz.  ■.—from 
the  Bible  ;  from  nature  ;  and  from  every-day  life. 

There  are  two  illustrations,  of  which  we  may  speak  from  the  Bible. 
We  find  one  of  these  in  the  history  of  the  prophet  Elijah.  You  remember 
that  there  was  a  great  famine  in  the  land  of  Israel  during  the  lifetime  of 
this  prophet.  For  more  than  three  years  there  w^as  not  a  drop  of  rain  all 
through  the  land.  The  fields,  the  vineyards,  and  gardens  dried  up,  and 
withered,  and  yielded  no  fruit.  During  the  first  part  of  the  time  when 
this  famine  was  prevailing,  God  sent  Elijah  to  "  the  brook  Cherith,  that  is 
before  Jordan."  i  Kings  xvii :  7-17.  There  the  ravens  brought  him  food, 
and  he  drank  of  the  water  of  the  brook. 

But  after  awhile  the  brook  dried  up.     Then  God  told  him  to  go  to 


588  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

the  city  of  Zarephath,  or  Sarepta,  on  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea, 
and  that  he  had  commanded  a  widow  woman  there  to  sustain  him.  He 
did  not  tell  him  the  name  of  the  woman  ;  nor  the  street  she  lived  in;  nor 
the  number  of  her  house.  Elijah  went.  When  he  came  near  the  place 
he  met  a  woman,  picking  up  some  sticks  of  wood.  I  suppose  God  told 
him  that  this  was  the  woman  he  was  to  stay  with.  Elijah  spoke  to  her, 
and  asked  her  if  she  would  please  give  him  a  drink  of  water.  When  she 
was  going  to  get  it,  he  called  to  her  again,  and  said  he  was  hungry,  and 
asked  her  to  bring  him  a  piece  of  bread.  Then  she  told  him  that  there 
was  not  a  morsel  of  bread  in  her  house  All  she  had  in  the  world  was  a 
handful  of  meai  in  a  barrel,  and  a  little  oil  in  a  cruse,  and  that  she  was 
gathering  a  few  sticks,  that  she  might  go  and  bake  the  last  cake  for  herself 
and  her  son,  that  they  might  eat  it,  and  die.  And  Elijah  said,  "  Eear  not ; 
go,  and  do  as  thou  hast  said ;  l)ut  make  me  thereof  a  little  cake  first,  and 
bring  it  unto  me,  and  after  make  for  thee,  and  for  thy  son.  Eor  thus  saith 
the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  The  barrel  of  meal  shall  not  waste,  neither  shall 
the  cruse  of  oil  fail,  until  the  day  that  the  Lord  sendeth  rain  upon  the 
earth." 

This  was  a  hard  thing  to  ask  a  mother  to  do.  It  was  asking  her  tc 
take  the  last  morsel  of  bread  she  had,  and  that  she  needed  for  herself,  and 
for  her  hungry  boy,  and  give  it  to  a  stranger.  Yet  she  did  it ;  because  she 
believed  God.  I  seem  to  see  her  turning  the  meal  barrel  up,  to  get  the 
meal  all  out.  Then  she  pours  out  the  oil  from  the  cruse,  and  drains  out 
the  last  drop.  She  mixes  the  meal  and  the  olive  oil  together,  as  is  the 
custom  in  that  country,  still,  and  makes  a  cake  which  can  soon  be  baked. 
She  takes  it  to  the  man  of  God,  \\\\o  eats  it  thankfully,  and  is  refreshed. 
Then  she  returns  to  the  empty  barrel,  and  cruse,  and  finds  as  much  in 
them  as  she  had  lately  taken  out.  She  prepares  some  bread  for  herself 
and  her  son,  and  they  eat  it  thankfully  as  bread  sent  from  heaven.  The 
next  day  it  is  the  same,  and  the  day  after,  and  so  on  through  all  the  days  of 
the  famine.  We  are  not  told  how  long  it  was,  after  Elijah  went  to  the 
widow's  house,  before  the  days  of  the  famine  were  over.  But  suppose  we 
make  a  calculation  about  it.  The  famine  lasted  for  three  years.  Now  let 
us  suppose,  that  the  first  half  of  this  time,  was  spent  by  the  prophet,  at  the 
brook  Cherith.     Then  his  stay  at  the  widow's   house  must  have  been  at 


CHRIST  TEACHING   LIBERALITY  589 

least  eighteen  months.  And,  if  this  miracle,  of  increasing  the  meal  and 
the  oil,  was  repeated  only  once  a  day,  there  would  be  for  the  first  twelve 
months,  or  for  the  year,  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  miracles ;  and  for  the 
six  months,  or  the  half  year,  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  more;  and  add- 
ing these  together  we  have  the  surprising  number  oi  Jive  himdrcd  and 
forty-seven  miracles,  that  were  performed  to  reward  this  good  widow,  for 
the  kindness  she  showed  to  the  prophet  Elijah,  when  she  gave  him  a  piece 
of  bread,  and  a  drink  of  water!  What  an  illustration  we  have  here,  of 
the  truth  we  are  now  considering,  \S\2X  giving,  is  God's  rule  fo)'  getting. 

But  the  best  illustration  of  this  subject,  to  be  found  in  the  Bible,  is 
given  in  our  Saviour's  own  experience.  He  not  oVk\y  preached  \ki&  lesson 
of  liberality,  hut  practiced  it.  He  is  himself  the  greatest  giver  ever  heard 
of  In  becoming  our  Redeemer  he  showed  himself  the  Prince  of  givers. 
He  gave — not  silver  and  gold;  not  all  the  wealth  of  the  world,  or  of  ten 
thousand  worlds  like  ours;  but  "  He  gave  Himself  for  us."  He  can  say 
indeed,  to  each  of  us,  in  the  language  of  the  hymn : — 

"  I  gave  my  life  for  thee, 

My  precious  blood  I  shed, 
That  thou  might'st  ransomed  be, 
And  quickened  from  the  dead." 

And  what  is  the  result  of  this  glorious  giving  to  Jesus  himself?  St. 
Paul  answers  this  question  when  he  says,  "  Wherefore  God  also  hath  highly 
exalted  him ;  and  given  him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name ;  that  at 
the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and  things 
in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth;  And  that  every  tongue  should  con- 
fess that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father."  Phil,  ii : 
9-1 1.  Because  of  what  he  gave  "for  us  men,  and  for  our  salvation,"  he 
will  be  loved,  and  praised,  and  honored,  in  heaven,  on  the  earth,  and 
through  all  the  universe,  above  all  other  beings,  for  ever  and  ever.  What 
a  glorioils  illustration  we  have  here  of  the  truth  of  this  statement,  that 
"giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting."  These  are  some  of  the  illustrations  of 
this  lesson  of  liberality  that  we  find  in  the  Bible. 

And  now,  let  us  look  at  some  illustrations  of  this  subject,  that  we  have 
in  nature. 


590 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


Solomon  suggests  one  of  these  when  he  says,  "  There  is  that  scatter- 
eth,  ami  yet  incyeasethr  Prov.  xi :  26.  He  is  evidently  speaking  here  of 
a  farmer,  sowing  his  fields  with  grain. 


There  the  Ravens  brought  him  food. 


Now  suppose  that  we  had  never  seen  a  man  sowing ;  and  that  we 
knew  nothing  at  all  about  the  growth  of  grain,  or  how  wonderfully  the 
seed  sown  in  the  spring,  is  increased,  and  multiplied  when  the  harvest  is 
reaped.     Then,  the  first  time  we  saw  a  farmer  sowing  his  fields,  we  should 


CHRIST  TEACHING   LIBERALITY.  591 

have  been  ready  to  say,  "What  a  fooHsh  man  that  is!     He  is  taking  that 
precious  grain  by  the  handful,  and  deliberately  throwing  it  away." 

Of  course,  we  should  have  expected  that  the  grain  thus  thrown  away, 
or  scattered  over  the  ground,  would  all  be  lost.  But,  if  we  could  have 
come  back  to  visit  farmer  when  he  was  gathering  in  his  harvest,  how 
surprised  we  should  have  been!  Then  we  should  have  learned  that  for 
every  handful  of  grain  that  the  farmer  had  scattered,  or,  as  we  thought, 
thrown  away,  in  the  spring,  when  he  was  sowing,  he  had  gained  forty  or 
fifty  handsfull  when  he  reaped  in  his  harvest.  Then  we  should  have 
understood  what  Solomon  meant  when  he  said,  "  There  is  that  scattereth, 
and  yet  increaseth."  And  we  should  have  here  a  good  illustration  of  our 
Saviour's  lesson  of  liberality,  when  he  said,  "  Give,  and  it  shall  be  given 
unto  you;"  and  of  the  Bible  truth  we  are  now  studying,  that  "giving  is 
God's  rule  for  getting." 

Yonder  is  the  great  ocean  ;  it  is  one  of  the  grandest  of  nature's  works. 
And  the  ocean  gives  us  a  good  illustration  of  the  lesson  of  liberality 
which  our  Saviour  taught.  The  waters  of  the  ocean  are  spread  out  for 
thousands  of  miles.  As  the  sun  shines  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  it 
makes  the  water  warm,  and  turns  it  into  vapor,  like  the  steam  that  comes 
from  the  boiling  kettle.  This  vapor  rises  into  the  air,  and  helps  to  form 
the  clouds  that  are  floating  there.  These  clouds  sail  over  the  land,  and 
pour  out  the  water  that  is  in  them,  in  refreshing  and  fertilizing  showers  of 
rain.  This  rain  makes  the  rills  start  from  the  sides  of  the  mountains. 
The  rills  run  down  into  the  rivers,  and  the  rivers  flow  back  into  the  sea 
again.  In  this  way  the  ocean  is  a  great  giver.  It  has  been  giving  away 
its  water  for  hundreds  and  thousands  of  years,  ever  since  the  day  when 
God  made  it. 

Now,  let  us  suppose  that  the  ocean  could  think,  or  speak;  and  that  it 
had  power  to  control  its  own  motions.  And  suppose  that  the  ocean  should 
say ; — "  Well,  I  think  I  have  been  giving  away  water  long  enough.  I  am 
going  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf.  The  sun  may  shine  as  much  as  it  pleases. 
I  won't  let  another  drop  of  water  go  out  from  my  surface.  I  am  tired  of 
giving,  and  I  mean  to  stop  doing  it,  any  longer."  Let  us  pause  for  a 
moment  here,  and  see  what  the  effect  of  this  would  be  upon  the  ocean 
itself. 


592  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

We  know  that  all  the  water  in  the  ocean  is  salt  water.  But  when 
the  sun  takes  water  from  the  ocean,  in  the  form  of  vapor,  it  is  al- 
ways taken  out  as  fresh  water.  It  leaves  the  salt  behind  it.  Then  the 
water  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  from  which  this  vapor  has  been  taken, 
has  more  salt  in  it  than  the  water  underneath  it.  This  makes  it  heavier 
than  the  other  water.  The  consequence  of  this,  is  that  this  heavier  water, 
on  the  top  of  the  ocean,  sinks  to  the  bottom ;  and  at  the  same  time  the 
lighter  water  at  the  bottom  rises  to  the  top.  And  so  a  constant  change  is 
taking  place  all  over  the  ocean.  The  water  from  the  top  is  sinking  to  the 
bottom,  and  the  water  from  the  bottom  is  rising  to  the  top.  And  this  is 
one  of  the  means  which  God  employs  to  keep  the  waters  of  the  ocean 
always  pure  and  wholesome.  But  if  the  ocean  should  stop  giving  away 
its  water,  as  it  has  always  been  doing,  then  this  constant  change  of  its 
waters  would  cease.  The  ocean  would  be  left  still  and  stagnant.  It 
would  become  a  great  mass  of  corruption ;  and  the  breezes  from  the 
ocean,  that  now  carry  health  and  life  to  those  who  breathe  them,  would 
carry  only  disease  and  death.  And  the  thousands  of  people  who  now 
love  the  ocean,  and  seek  its  shores  every  summer,  to  get  strong  and  well 
by  breathing  the  air  that  sweeps  over  its  surface,  and  by  bathing  in  its 
foaming  surf,  would  all  be  afraid  of  the  ocean;  and  would  keep  as  far 
away  from  its  shores  as  they  could.  And  so  we  see  how  the  ocean  stands 
before  us  as  a  grand  illustration  of  the  lesson  of  liberality  which  our 
Saviour  taught  when  he  said,  "Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you." 
The  ocean  gives  away  its  water  continually,  and,  in  return  for  this,  God 
gives  it  freshness  and  purity;  and  makes  it  a  blessing  to  the  world.  And 
so  the  ocean  illustrates  the  truth  of  the  lesson  we  are  now  studying,  that 
"  giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting." 

And  yonder  is  the  great  sun,  shining  up  in  the  sky.  We  do  not 
know  as  much  about  the  sun  as  we  do  about  the  ocean,  because  it  is  so 
far  away  from  us.  The  ocean  is  very  near  us.  We  can  walk  along  its 
shores,  and  plunge  into  its  waters,  and  sail  over  its  surface.  We  can 
study  out  all  about  the  laws  that  govern  it,  and  what  the  effect  of  those 
laws  is  upon  it.  But  it  is  very  different  with  the  sun  It  is  about  ninety 
millions  of  miles  away  from  us.  This  is  too  far  off  for  us  to  know  much 
about  it.     And  yet,  we  know  enough  about  the  sun  to  get  from  it  a  good 


CHRIST  TEACHING  LIBERALITY. 


59: 


illustration  of  God's  rule  about  giving  and  getting.  The  sun,  like  the 
ocean,  is  a  great  giver.  It  is  giving  away  light  all  the  time.  It  was  made 
for  this  purpose;  and  for  this  purpose  it  is  preserved.     If  the  sun  should 


Young  man,  I  say  unto  thee,  arise, 


Stop  giving,  and  should  try  to  keep  all  its  light  and  heat  for  itself,  the 
effect  would  be  its  ruin.  By  ceasing  to  give  it  would  be  burnt  up,  and 
destroyed.     And    so,  when  we  see  the  sower  sowing  his  seed,  or  the 


594 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


reaper  gathering  in  his  harvest;  when  we  look  upon  the  ocean,  and  see 
the  clouds  formed  from  its  waters,  as  they  go  sailing  through  the  sky;  or 
when  we  see  the  sun  rising  in  the  morning,  going  forth  again  to  his  ap- 
pointed work  of  giving  light  to  a  dark  world  ;  let  us  remember  that  these 
are  nature's  illustrations  of  the  lesson  of  liberality  which  Jesus  taught 
when  he  said,  "Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you."  They  all  help  to 
show  us  how  true  it  is,  that  "giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting." 

And  now  we  may  go  on  to  look  for  onr  illiistmtions  of  this  subject  from 
every  day  life. 

If  we  are  only  watchful  we  shall  meet  with  illustrations  of  this  kind 
continually.  It  would  not  be  difficult  to  fill  a  volume  with  them.  Here 
are  a  few  out  of  many  that  might  be  given. . 

The  Travellers  in  the  Sno7v. — Two  travellers  were  on  a  journey  in  a 
sleigh,  during  a  very  severe  winter.  It  was  snowing  fast  as  they  drove 
along.  One  of  the  travellers  was  a  liberal,  generous-hearted  man,  who 
believed  in  giving ,  and  was  always  ready  to  share  whatever  he  had,  with 
others.  His  companion  was  a  selfish,  ungenerous  man.  He  did  ;«^/ be- 
lieve in  giving ;  and  liked  to  keep  whatever  he  had  for  himself  As  they 
drove  along,  they  saw  something  covered  up  in  the  snow,  that  looked  like 
the  figure  of  a  man.  "  Look  there,"  said  the  generous  man  to  his  friend, 
"  that  must  be  some  poor  fellow  overcome  by  the  cold.  Let's  stop  and 
see  what  we  can  do  for  him." 

"  You  can  get  out,  if  you  like,"  was  his  reply,  "  but  it's  too  cold  for 
me.  I  intend  to  stay  where  I  am ;"  and  he  wrapped  his  furs  closely 
round  him. 

The  other  traveller  threw  aside  his  furs  and  jumped  out  of  the  sleigh. 
He  found  it  was  a  poor  man,  who  had  sunk  down  in  the  snow,  a  short 
time  before,  overcome  by  the  cold.  He  shook  off  the  snow  from  him, 
and  began  to  rub  his  hands,  and  face  and  feet.  He  kept  on  rubbing  for  a 
good  while.  At  last  the  man  began  to  get  warm  again,  and  was  saved 
from  death.  Then  the  generous-hearted  traveller  helped  him  into  the 
sleigh,  and  shared  his  wrappings  with  him.  The  exertion  he  had  made, 
in  doing  this  kind  act,  put  him  all  in  a  glow  of  warmth.  He  made  the 
rest  of  the  journey  in  comfort.  But  when  they  stopped  at  the  end  of 
their  journey,  the  selfish  man,  who  was  not  willing  to  do  anything  for  the 


CHRIST  TEACHING  LIBERALITY.  595 

help  of  another,  had  his  fingers,  and  toes,  and  nose,  and  ears  frozen.  This 
illustrates  the  lesson  of  liberality;  and  shows  that  "giving  is  God's  rule 
for  getting." 

Here  we  see  the  truth  of  the  lines  which  some  one  has  written : — 

"  Numb  and  weary  on  the  mountains 

VVouIdst  thou  sleep  amidst  the  snow? 
Chafe  the  frozen  form  beside  thee, 

And  together  both  shall  glow. 
Art  thou  stricken  in  life's  battle? 
«  Many  wounded  round  thee  moan; 

Lavish  on  their  wounds  thy  balsams, 

And  that  balm  shall  heal  thine  own." 

TJie  Officer  and  the  Soldier. — In  one  of  the  terrible  battles  in  Vir- 
ginia, during  the  late  war,  a  Union  officer  fell  wounded  in  front  of  the 
Confederate  breastwork,  which  had  been  attacked.  His  wounds  brought 
on  a  raging  fever,  and  he  lay  on  the  ground  crying  piteously  for  water. 
A  kind-hearted  Confederate  soldier  heard  the  touching  cry,  and  leaping 
over  the  fortifications,  with  his  canteen  in  his  hand,  he  crawled  up  to  the 
poor  fellow  and  gave  him  a  drink  of  water.  O,  what  a  comfort  this  was 
to  the  wounded  man!  His  heart  was  filled  with  gratitude  towards  this 
generous  and  noble  soldier.  He  pulled  out  his  gold  watch  from  his  pock- 
et, and  cheerfully  offered  it  to  his  benefactor ;  but  he  refused  to  take  it. 
Then  he  asked  the  soldier's  name,  and  residence.  He  said  his  name  was 
James  Moore,  and  that  he  lived  in  Burke  county.  North  Carolina.  Then 
they  parted.  This  noble  soldier  afterwards  lost  a  limb  in  one  of  the  Vir- 
ginia battles,  and  returned  to  his  home  as  a  cripple. 

The  officer  recovered  from  his  wounds  ;  but  he  never  forgot  the  kind- 
ness of  that  Confederate  soldier.  And  when  the  war  was  over,  and  he  was 
engaged  in  his  business  again,  he  wrote  to  James  Moore,  telling  him  that 
he  intended  to  send  him  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  in  four  quarterly 
installments  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  each ;  and  that  he  wished  him 
to  receive  the  same  in  token  of  the  heart-felt  gratitude  with  which  his  gen- 
erous kindness  on  the  battle-field  was  remembered.  Certainly  these  were 
two  noble  men.     It  is  hard  to  tell  which  was  the  more  noble  of  the  two. 


596 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


But  when  the  crippled  soldier  thought  of  the  drink  of  water  which  he 
gave  to  the  wounded  officer,  and  of  the  ten  thousand  dollars  which  he  re- 
ceived for  the  same,  he  must  have  felt  how  true  our  Saviour's  words  were, 
when  he  said  ;  "Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you."  And  he  must  have 
felt  sure  of  the  lesson  we  are  now  considering,  that  "  Giving  is  God's  rule 
for  getting." 

The  Secret  of  Success. 

^T — — Some  time  ago  a  Christian 

gentleman  was  visiting  a 
large  paper  mill,  that  be- 
longed to  a  friend  of  his, 
who  was  a  very  rich  man. 
The  owner  of  the  mill  took 
him  all  through  it,  and  show- 
ed him  the  machinery;  and 
told  him  how  the  paper  was 
made.  When  they  were 
through  the  visitor  said  to 
his  friend,  "  I  have  one  ques- 
tion to  ask  you  ;  and  if  you 
will  answer  it,  I  shall  feel 
very  much  obliged  to  you. 
I  am  told  that  you  started 
in  life  very  poor,  and  now 
you  are  one  of  the  richest 
men  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try. My  question  is  this; 
\\'\\\  you  please  tell  me  the 
secret  of  your  success  in 
business  ?" 
"  I  don't  know  that  there  is  any  great  secret  about  it,"  said  his  friend, 
"but  I  will  tell  you  all  I  know.  I  got  a  situation,  and  began  to  work  for 
my  own  living,  when  I  was  only  sixteen  years  old.  My  wages,  at  first, 
were  to  be  forty  dollars  a  year,  with  my  board  and  lodging.  My  clothing 
and  all  my  other  expenses  were  to  come  out  of  the  forty  dollars.     I  then 


One  of  the  grandest  of  nature's  works. 


CHRIST  TEACHING  LIBERALITY. 


597 


made  a  solemn  promise  to  the  Lord  that  one-tenth  of  my  wages,  or  four 
dollars  out  of  the  forty,  should  be  faithfully  laid  aside  to  be  given  to  the 
poor ;  or  to  some  religious  work.  This  promise  I  kept  religiously,  and 
after  laying  aside  one-tenth  to  give  away,  at  the  end  of  the  year,  besides 
meeting  my  expenses,  I  had  more  than  a  tenth  left  for  myself  I  then 
made  a  vow  that  whatever  it  might  please  God  to  give  me,  I  would  never 
give  less  than  one-tenth  of  my  income  to  him.  This  vow  I  have  faithfully 
kept  from  that  day  to  this.  If  there  be  any  secret  to  my  success — this  is  it. 
Whatever  I  receive  during  the  year,  I  feel  sure  that  I  am  richer  on  nine- 
tenths  of  it,  with  God's  blessing,  than  I  should  be  on  the  whole  of  it,  with- 
out that  blessing.  I  believe  that  God  has  blessed  me,  and  made  my 
business  prosper.  And  I  am  sure  that  any  one  who  will  make  the  trial 
of  this  secret  of  success,  will  find  it  work  as  it  has  done  in  my  case." 

This  man  was  certainly  proving  the  truth  of  our  Saviour's  words 
when  he  said — "  Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you."  And  his  expe- 
rience shows,  most  satisfactorily  that  "giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting." 

The  Steamboat  Captain  and  the  Soldier. — During  the  late  war  there 
was  a  steamboat,  one  day,  in  front  of  a  flourishing  town,  on  the  Ohio  river. 
The  captain,  who  had  charge  of  her,  was  the  owner  of  the  boat.  The 
steam  was  up ;  and  the  captain  was  about  to  start  on  a  trip  some  miles 
down  the  ri\er,  with  an  excursion  party,  who  had  chartered  the  boat  for 
the  occasion.  While  waiting  for  the  party  to  come  on  board,  a  poor 
'wounded  soldier  came  up  to  the  captain.  He  said  he  was  suffering  from 
severe  sickness,  as  well  as  from  his  wounds.  He  had  been  in  the  hospi- 
tal. The  doctor  had  told  him  that  he  could  not  li\e  long;  and  he  was 
very  anxious  to  get  home,  and  see  his  mother  again,  before  he  died ;  and 
he  wished  to  know  if  the  captain  would  give  him  a  passage  down  the  river 
on  his  boat.  On  hearing  where  his  home  was,  the  captain  said  that  the 
party  who  had  chartered  his  boat  were  going  near  that  place ;  and  he  told 
the  poor  soldier  that  he  would  gladly  take  him  to  his  home. 

But,  when  the  excursion  party  came  on  board,  and  saw  the  soldier, 
with  his  soiled,  and  worn  clothes,  and  his  ugly-looking  wounds,  they 
were  not  willing  to  let  him  go;  and  asked  the  captain  to  put  him  ashore. 
The  captain  told  the  soldier's  sad  story,  and  pleaded  his  cause  very  earn- 
estly.    He  said  he  would  place  him  on  the  lower  deck,  and  put  a  screen 


598  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

round  his  bed,  so  that  they  could  not  see  him.  But  the  young  people 
refused.  They  said  as  they  had  hired  the  boat,  it  belonged  to  them,  for 
the  day,  and  they  were  not  willing  to  have  such  a  miserable-looking 
object,  on  board  their  boat ;  and  that  if  the  captain  did  not  put  him  off, 
they  would  hire  another  boat,  and  he  would  lose  the  twenty  dollars  they 
had  agreed  to  give  him  for  the  day's  excursion. 

The  good  captain  made  one  more  appeal  to  them.  He  asked  them 
to  put  themselves  in  the  poor  soldier's  place,  and  then  to  think  how  they 
would  like  to  be  treated.  But  still  they  refused  to  let  the  soldier  go. 
Then  the  noble-hearted  captain  said;  "Well,  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
whether  you  hire  my  boat  or  not,  I  intend  to  take  this  soldier  home  to-day." 

The  party  did  hire  another  boat.  The  captain  lost  his  twenty  dollars. 
But,  when  he  returned  the  poor  dying  soldier  to  the  arms  of  his  loving 
mother,  he  felt  that  the  tears  of  gratitude  with  which  she  thanked  him, 
were  worth  more  than  the  money  he  had  lost.  The  gentle  mother  dressed 
the  wounds  of  her  poor  suffering  boy ;  and  nursed  and  cared  for  him,  as 
none  but  a  mother  knows  how  to  do.  But  she  could  not  save  his  life. 
He  died  after  a  few  days;  and  the  last  words  he  spoke,  as  his  loving 
parents  stood  weeping  at  his  bed-side  were — "  Don't  forget  the  good 
captain."  And  he  was  not  forgotten.  For  after  the  soldier's  funeral  was 
over,  his  father  went  up  the  river,  to  the  town  where  the  captain  lived. 
He  found  him  out.  He  thanked  him  again  for  his  kindness  in  bringing 
home  his  dying  boy ;  and  made  him  a  present,  that  was  worth  four  or  five  • 
times  the  twenty  dollars  he  had  lost  for  the  hire  of  his  boat. 

But  this  was  not  the  end  of  it.  For  not  long  after  this,  the  captain 
and  his  wife  were  taken  suddenly  ill,  ^\  ith  a  fatal  disease  that  was  pre- 
vailing in  that  region  of  the  country.  They  both  died;  leaving  two  little 
orphan  children,  with  no  one  to  take  care  of  them.  The  soldier's  father 
heard  of  it;  and  he  went  at  once  and  asked  that  he  might  be  permitted  to 
take  the  two  helpless  little  ones,  and  adopt  them  as  his  own  children. 
He  took  them  home ;  and  was  a  father,  and  a  friend  to  them  as  long  as 
he  lived. 

How  beautifully  our  Saviour's  words — "Give,  and  it  shall  be  given 
unto  you,"  are  illustrated  in  this  story!  How  clearly  we  see  here,  that 
"Giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting!" 


6oo 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


I  have  just  cne  other  illustration  before  closing  this  subject.  We 
may  call  it 

The  Miser  and  the  Hungry  CJiildren. — In  a  village  in  England  were 
two  little  motherless  girls,  who  lived  in  a  small  cottage.  Sally,  the  elder 
was  about  eight  years  old,  and  her  sister  Mary  was  six.  They  were  very 
poor.  Their  father  was  a  laboring  man ;  and  he  found  great  difficulty  in 
supporting  himself  and  his  children. 

Once,  .in  the  midst  of  winter,  these  two  little  girls  were  left  alone  all 
day,  as  their  father  had  gone  out  to  work.     They  had  their  breakfast  in 


Jesus  feeding  the  multitude. 


the  morning  with  their  father,  before  he  left.  But  they  had  no  dinner,  nor 
anything  to  eat  during  the  rest  of  the  day.  About  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon, Mary  said  to  her  sister;  "Sally,  I'm  very  hungry.  Is  there  any- 
thing in  the  closet  that  we  can  get  to  eat  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Sally;  "  I've  looked  all  through  the  closet ;  but  there  isn't  a 
crust  of  bread,  or  a  cold  potato;  nor  anything  to  eat.  I  wish  there  was 
something;  for  I'm  hungry  too." 


CHRIST  TEACHING    LIBERALITY.  60 1 

"O,  dear!  what  shall  we  do?"  cried  Mary;  "I'm  too  hungry  to  wait 
till  father  comes  home! 

"Mary,"  said  her  sister,  "suppose  we  ask  our  Father  in  heaven  to  give 
us  something  to  eat?  Let  us  kneel  down,  and  say  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
When  we  come  to  that  part  about  'daily  bread  '  we'll  say  it  over  three 
times,  and  then  wait,  and  see  if  God  will  send  us  some." 

Mary  agreed  to  this.  They  both  kneeled  down,  and  Sally  began  : 
"Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven;  hallowed  be  thy  name  ;  thy  kingdom 
come ;  thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven :  give  us  this  day  our 
daily  bread ;  give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread  ;  give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread."     Then  they  waited,  quietly,  to  see  if  anything  would  come. 

And  now,  while  this  was  going  on  inside  of  that  little  cottage,  let  me 
tell  you  what  was  taking  place  outside. 

Not  far  from  this  cottage  lived  an  old  man,  who  was  a  miser.  He 
had  a  good  deal  of  money;  but  he  never  gave  any  of  it  to  others;  and 
never  would  spend  a  penny  for  himself,  if  he  could  possibly  help  it.  But, 
on  that  afternoon,  he  had  left  home,  to  go  to  the  baker's  and  buy  a  loaf  of 
bread.  He  got  the  loaf,  and,  as  it  was  a  stormy  afternoon,  he  put  it  under 
his  coat,  before  starting  to  walk  home.  Now,  it  happened,  that  just  as  he 
was  passing  the  cottage  in  which  the  little  girls  were,  a  strong  blast  of  wind 
blew  the  rain  in  his  face,  and  he  stepped  into  the  porch  of  the  cottage, 
and  crouched  down  in  the  corner,  to  shelter  himself  from  the  wind  and 
rain.  In  this  position  his  ear  was  brought  quite  close  to  the  keyhole  of  the 
door.  He  heard  what  the  little  girls  had  said  about  being  hungry.  He  heard 
their  proposal  to  pray  to  the  Father  in  heaven  to  give  them  bread.  He 
heard  the  thrice  repeated  prayer — "give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread.'' 
And  then  came  the  silence,  when  the  little  ones  waited,  and  watched  for 
the  bread.  This  had  a  strange  effect  on  the  miser.  His  hard,  selfish 
heart,  which  had  never  felt  a  generous  feeling  for  any  one,  warmed  up, 
and  grew  suddenly  soft  in  tenderness  towards  these  helpless,  hungry 
little  ones.  Tears  moistened  his  eyes.  He  put  his  thumb  on  the  latch  of 
the  door.  The  latch  was  gently  lifted,  and  the  door  opened.  He  took 
the  loaf  from  under  his  coat,  and  threw  it  into  the  room.  The  little  girls 
still  waiting  and  watching  on  their  knees,  saw  the  loaf  go  bouncing  over 
the  floor.     They  jumped  up  on  their  feet,  and  clapped  their  hands  for  joy. 


6o2  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

"  O,  Sally,"  said  little  Mary,  "  how  good  God  is  to  answer  our  prayer 
so  soon  !     Did  He  send  an  angel  from  heaven  to  bring  us  this  bread?" 

"I  don't  know  who  brought  it,"  answered  Sally,  "but  I  am  sure  that 
God  sent  it." 

And  how  about  the  Miser?  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  had  given 
to  the  poor.  Did  the  promise  fail  which  says,  "  Give,  and  it  shall  be 
given  unto  you?"  No;  God's  promises  never  fail.  He  went  to  the 
bakery,  and  bought  another  loaf  for  himself,  and  then  he  went  home  with 
different  feelings  from  what  he  had  ever  had  before.  The  warm,  soft 
feeling  that  came  into  his  hard  heart,  when  he  gave  the  loaf  to  those 
children,  did  not  pass  away.  It  grew  upon  him.  He  had  found  so  much 
pleasure  in  doing  that  one  kind  act,  that  he  went  on  and  did  more.  And 
God  blessed  him  in  doing  it.  He  began  to  pray  to  that  God  who  had 
answered  the  prayer  of  those  little  girls  for  bread,  in  such  a  strange  way. 
He  read  the  Bible.  He  went  to  church.  He  became  a  Christian;  and 
some  time  after,  he  died  a  happy  Christian  death.  But  before  he  died,  as 
he  was  the  owner  of  the  cottage  in  which  the  little  girls  lived,  he  gave  it 
to  their  father.  What  a  beautiful  illustration  we  have  here  of  our 
Saviour's  words — "  Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you!"  This  miser 
gave  a  loaf  of  bread  to  these  hungry  children,  and  God  gave  him  the 
grace  that  made  liiin  a  Christian !  And  as  we  think  of  this  we  may  well 
say  that  "  giving  is  God's  rule  for  getting." 

And  thus  we  have  considered  the  lesson  ot  liberality  which  our 
Saviour  taught;  the  proofs  of  that  lesson  found  in  the  Bible;  and  the 
illustrations  of  it,  from  the  Bible ;  from  nature,  and  from  every  day  life. 
The  three  things  to  be  remembered  from  this  subject  are  tJie  lesson  —  the 
proofs  —  the  illustrations. 

I  will  quote  here,  in  finishing,  three  verses  which  teach  the  same 
lesson  that  our  Saviour  taught  when  He  spoke  the  words  from  which  I 
have  tried  to  draw  the  lesson  of  liberality.  The  title  at  the  head  of  them 
is  taken  from  Solomon's  words  in  one  of  the  passages  from  the  book  of 
Proverbs,  which  we  have  already  used. 


jesus  restored  the  sight  of  blind  Bartimeus. 


-t* 


/  ^\y  N 


■^' 


•THERE  IS  THAT  SCATTERETH   AND  YET  IXCREASETH." 

Is  thy  cruse  of  comfort  wasting? 

Rise,  and  share  it  with  another ; 
And  through  all  the  years  of  famine 

It  shall  serve  thee  and  thy  brother. 
God  himself  will  fill  thy  storehouse, 

Or  thy  handful  still  renew  : 
Scanty  fare  for  iwr  will  often 

Make  a  royal  feast  for  tico. 

For  the  heart  grows  rich  in  giving; 

All  its  wealth  is  living  grain : 
Seeds  which  mildew  in  the  garner, 

Scattered,  fill  with  gold  the  plain. 
Is  thy  burden  hard  and  heavy? 

Do  thy  steps  drag  wearily  ? 
Help  to  bear  thy  brother's  burden, — 

God  will  bear  both  it  and  thee. 


Is  thy  heart  a  well  left  empty  ? 

None  but  God  its  void  can  fill  ; 
Nothing  but  a  ceaseless  fountain 

Can  this  ceaseless  longing  still. 
Is  the  heart  a  living  power  ? 

Self-entwined  its  strength  sink: 
It  can  only  live  in  loving, 

And  by  serving  Io\c  will  grow.' 


604 


X 


w 
o 

H 

W 
X 
H 

H 


U 
X 


o 

H 

Z 

< 

o 

u 

B 

Q 
Z 
< 


CHRIST  TEACHING  HUMILITY. 


URINGthe  earthly  life  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  we  see 
how  everything  connected  with  it  teaches  the  lesson  of 
humility.  This  is  pointed  out  in  the  beautiful  col- 
lect in  The  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  for  the  first 
Sunday  in  Advent.  Here  we  are  taught  to  say:— 
"  Almighty  God,  give  us  grace  to  cast  away  the  works 
of  darkness,  and  put  upon  us  the  armor  of  light,  now 
in  the  time  of  this  mortal  life,  in  which  thy  Son  Jesus 
Christ  came  to  visit  us  in — great  hnmi/ity." 

If  Jesus  had  come  into  our  world  as  an  angel,  it 

would  have  been  an  act  of  humility.     If  he  had  come 

as  a  great  and  mighty  king,  it  would  have  been  an  act 

of  humility.     But  when  he  was  born  in  a  stable,  and 

cradled  in  a  manger;  when  he  could  say  of  himself,  "the  foxes  have  holes, 

and  the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests,  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to 

lay  his  head  ;  "  when  there  never  was  an  acre,  or  a  foot  of  ground  that  he 

called  his  own,  although  he  made  the  world  and  all  things  in  it;  when  he 

605 


6o6  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

sailed  in  a  borrowed  boat,  and  was  buried  in  a  borrowed  tomb ;  how  well 
it  might  be  said  that  he  was  teaching  humility  all  the  days  of  his  life  on 
earth  1  Yet  he  did  not  think  that  fliis  was  enough.  And  so  he  gave  his 
disciples  a  special  lesson  on  this  subject. 

We  have  an  account  of  this  lesson  in  St.  John  13 :  4-15.  It  is  taught 
us  in  these  words : —  "He  riseth  from  supper,  and  laid  aside  his  gar- 
ments ;  and  took  a  towel  and  girded  himself.  After  that  he  poureth  water 
into  a  bason,  and  began  to  wash  his  disciples'  feet,  and  to  wipe  them  with 
the  towel  wherewith  he  was  girded."  Then  occurs  the  incident  about  the 
objection  which  Peter  made  to  letting  Jesus  wash  his  feet,  and  the  way  in 
which  that  objection  was  overcome.  And  then  the  story  goes  on  thus: — 
"  So  after  he  had  washed  their  feet,  and  had  taken  his  garments,  and  was 
set  down  again,  he  said  unto  them,  '  Know  ye  what  I  have  done  unto 
you?  Ye  call  me  Master,  and  Lord  ;  and  ye  say  well ;  for  so  I  am.  If  I 
then,  your  Lord  and  Master,  have  washed  your  feet ;  ye  ought  also  to 
wash  one  another's  feet.  For  I  have  given  you  an  example,  that  ye 
should  do,  as  I  have  done  to  you." 

This  was  a  very  surprising  scene.  How  astonished  the  angels  must 
have  been  when  they  looked  upon  it!  They  had  known  Jesus  in  heaven, 
before  he  took  upon  him  our  nature,  and  came  into  this  fallen  world. 
They  had  seen  him  in  "the  glory  which  he  had  with  the  Father,  before  the 
world  was."  They  had  worshipped  him  in  the  midst  of  all  that  glory. 
And  then,  when  they  saw  him,  girded  with  a  towel,  and  washing  the  feet 
of  poor  sinful  men,  whom  he  came  from  heaven  to  save,  how  surprising  it 
must  have  seemed  to  them!  And  when  Jesus  told  his  disciples,  that  his 
object  in  doing  this  was  to  set  them  an  example,  that  they  should  do  as 
he  had  done  to  them,  he  did  not  mean  that  they  should  literally  make  a 
practice  of  washing  each  other's  feet ;  but  that  they  should  show  the  same 
humility  to  others  that  he  had  shown  to  them,  by  being  willing  to  do 
anything,  however  humble  it  might  be,  in  order  to  promote  their  comfort 
and  happiness.  It  is  not  the  act  itself,  here  spoken  of,  that  Jesus  teaches 
us  to  do;  but  the  spirit  of  humility,  in  which  the  act  was  performed,  that 
he  teaches  us  to  cultivate.  We  might  go  through  the  form  of  washing  the 
feet  of  other  persons,  and  yet  feel  proud  and  haughty  all  the  time  we  were 
doing  it.     Then  we  should  not  be  following  the  example  of  Jesus  at  all. 


CHRIST  TEACHING  HUMILITY.  607 


When  Jesus  washed  his  disciples'  feet,  what  he  wished  to  teach  them,  and 
us,  and  all  his  people,  is  how  earnestly  he  desires  us  to  learn  this  lesson 
of  humility.  And  when  we  think  of  the  wondrous  scene  which  took  place 
on  that  occasion,  the  one  thought  it  should  impress  on  our  minds, 
above  all  others  is  —  the  importance  of  humility. 

And  if  any  one  asks  what  is  meant  by  humility  ?  No  better  answer 
can  be  giv^en  to  this  question,  than  we  find  in  Romans  12:  3,  where  St. 
Paul  tells  us  "  not  to  think  of  ourselves  more  highly  than  we  ought  to 
think,  but  to  think  soberly."  Pride  is  "thinking  of  ourselves  more  highly 
than  we  ought  to  think."  Humility  is —  /zc*/ "  thinking  of  ourselves  more 
highly  than  we  ought  to  think."  And  humility  is  the  lesson  we  are  now 
to  study.  This  is  the  lesson  that  Jesus  wishes  all  who  love  him  to  learn. 
It  is  easy  to  speak  oi  five  reasons  why  we  should  learn  this  lesson. 

And  the  first  reason  for  learning  it  is — the  command — of  jfesus. 

When  he  had  finished  washing  his  disciples'  feet,  he  told  them  that 
"  they  should  do,  as  he  had  done  to  them."  This  was  his  command  to  his 
disciples,  and  to  us,  to  learn  the  lesson  of  humility.  And  this  is  not  the 
only  place  in  which  Jesus  taught  this  lesson.  He  gave  some  of  his  beau- 
tiful parables  to  teach  humility.  We  find  one  of  these  in  St.  Luke 
14:  7-12. 

On  one  occasion,  when  he  saw  the  people  all  pressing  forward  to  get 
the  best  seats  for  themselves  at  a  feast,  he  took  ths  opportunity  of  giving 
his  disciples  a  lesson  about  humility.  He  told  them,  when  they  were 
bidden  to  a  wedding  feast,  not  to  take  the  highest  seats ;  because  some 
more  honorable  person  might  be  bidden,  and  when  the  master  of  the 
feast  came  in  he  might  say  to  them  '  let  this  man  have  that  seat,  and 
you  go  and  take  a  lower  seat ' ;  then  they  would  feel  mortified,  and 
ashamed.  And  then  he  gave  his  disciples  this  command :  "  When  thou 
art  bidden,  go  and  sit  down  in  the  lowest  room,"  or  seat;  "that  when  he 
that  bade  thee  cometh,  he  may  say  unto  thee.  Friend,  go  up  higher :  then 
shalt  thou  have  worship  " — or  honor — "  in  the  presence  of  them  that  sit  at 
meat  with  thee."  Here  we  have  Jesus  repeating  his  command  to  all  his 
people  to  learn,  and  practice  the  lesson  of  humility. 

And  then  we  have  another  of  our  Saviour's  parables,  in  which  He 
taught  this  same  lesson  of  humility,  and  that  is  the  parable  of  the  Pharisee 


6o8 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


and  the  Publican.  We  find  it  in  St.  Luke  i8:  10-15.  ^he  parable  reads 
thus :  "  Two  men  went  up  into  the  temple  to  pray  ;  the  one  a  Pharisee, 
and  the  other  a  publican.  The  Pharisee  stood  and  prayed  thus  with  him- 
self, 'God,  I  thank  thee,  that  I  am  not  as  other  men  are,  extortioners, 
unjust,  adulterers,  or  even  as  this  publican.  I  fast  twice  in  the  week,  I 
give  tithes  of  all  that  I  possess.'  "  Here  we  have  a  picture  of  a  proud  man. 
He  pretended  to  pray,  but  asked  for  nothing,  because  he  did  not  feel  his 


i!VAVim,|!i\^ ^^±^^\\i,:  \f^> .J■•.I■t•^r.'^'?<.\. %;,iv ^.«)<, R'T.iw/  ,'^.' A, .;„,ui,vf,,;;A,.v,T//:"i'tir,'m;;;Miii'it)i\ •y,iiii|uiv\^-'^\\' ' '  '■■  -:: 


Jesus  at  a  marriage  feast. 


need  of  anything.     And  so  his  pretended  prayer  brought  him  no  blessing. 

And  then  in  the  rest  of  the  parable  we  have  our  Saviour's  description 
of  a  man  who  was  learning  the  lesson  of  humility,  and  of  the  blessing 
which  it  brought  to  him. 

Here  is  a  story  told  by  one  of  our  missionaries,  of  the  way  in  which 
this  parable  brought  a  heathen  man  to  Christ. 

That's  Me.     A   poor   Hottentot   in    Southern    Africa   lived   with   a 


CHRIST  TEACHING  HUMILITY.  609 

Dutch  farmer,  who  was  a  good  Christian  man,  and  kept  up  family  prayer 
in  his  home.  One  day,  at  their  family  worship  he  read  this  parable.  He 
began,  "  Two  men  went  up  into  the  temple  to  pray."  The  poor  savage, 
who  had  been  led  to  feel  himself  a  sinner,  and  was  anxious  for  the  salva- 
tion of  his  soul,  looked  earnestly  at  the  reader,  and  whispered  to  himself 
"  Now  I'll  learn  how  to  pray."  The  farmer  read  on,  "  God,  I  thank  Thee 
that  I  am  not  as  other  men  are."  "  No,  I  am  not,"  whispered  the  Hotten- 
tot, "but  I'm  worse."  Again  the  farmer  read,  "  I  fast  twice  in  the  week; 
I  give  tithes  of  all  that  I  possess."  "  I  don't  do  that.  I  don't  pray  in  that 
way.     What  shall  I  do  ?  "  said  the  distressed  savage. 

The  good  man  read  on  till  he  came  to  the  publican,  "  standing  afar 
off."  "  That's  where  I  am,"  said  the  Hottentot.  "  Would  not  lift  up  so 
much  as  his  eyes  unto  heaven,"  read  the  farmer.  "  That's  me,"  cried  his 
hearer.  "  But  smote  upon  his  breast  saying,  God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner."  "  That's  me ;  that's  my  prayer,"  cried  the  poor  creature,  and 
smiting  on  his  dark  breast,  he  prayied  for  himself  in  the  words  of  the  par- 
able,— "God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  !  "  And  he  went  on  offering  this 
prayer,  till  the  loving  Saviour  heard,  and  answered  him,  and  he  went  down 
,  to  his  house  a  saved  and  happy  man. 

Thus  we  see  how  this  poor  man  learned  the  lesson  of  humility  which 
Jesus  taught,  and  how  much  good  it  did  to  him. 

And  it  is  Jesus  who  is  speaking  to  us,  and  commanding  us  to  learn 
this  lesson  of  humility,  when  we  read,  in  other  passages  of  Scripture,  such 
words  as  these: — "Put  on  therefore — humbleness  of  mind,  meekness, 
long-suffering."  Colossians  3:12.  "  Humble  yourselves  therefore  in  the 
sight  of  God."  James  4 :  10.  "Be  clothed  with  humility."  i  Pet.  5  :  5. 
In  all  these  places  we  have  Jesus  repeating  his  conimand  to  us  to  learn 
the  lesson  of  humility.  And  this  command  is  urged  thus  earnestly  upon 
us  because  it  is  so  important. 

When  St.  Augustine,  one  of  the  celebrated  fathers  of  the  early  Church, 
was  asked—  What  is  the  first  important  thing  in  the  Christian  religion? 
his  reply  was  —  "  Humility."  "  What  is  the  second  ?  "  "  Humility."  "And 
what  is  the  third  ?" —  the  reply  still  was —  "  Humility." 

And  if  this  be  true,  we  need  not  wonder  that  Jesus  should  have  been 
so  earnest  in  teaching  this  lesson;  or  that  he  should  have  urged  it  so 
strongly  on  his  disciples  to  learn  it. 


6io  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

The  command  of  Christ  is  the  first  reason  why  we  should  learn  the 
lesson  of  humility. 

But  the  second  reason  why  we  should  learn  this  lesson  is,  because  of 
the — EXAMPLE — of  Christ. 

There  are  many  persons  "  who  say  and  do  not."  There  are  some 
ministers  who  preach  very  well,  but  they  do  not  practice  what  they  preach. 
Such  persons  may  well  be  compared  to  finger-boards.  They  point  out 
the  way  to  others,  but  they  do  not  walk  in  it  themselves.  But  this  was 
not  the  case  with  our  blessed  Saviour.  He  practised  everything  that  he 
preached.  And  when  he  gave  us  his  command  to  learn  this  lesson  of 
humility,  he  gave  us,  at  the  same  time,  his  example  to  show  us  how 
to  do  it. 

He  was  illustrating  this  command,  by  his  example,  when  he  washed 
his  disciples'  feet.  And  this  was  only  one,  out  of  many  things,  in  which 
he  set  us  this  example.  When  he  chose  to  be  born  of  poor  parents,  he 
was  giving  an  example  of  humility.  When  he  lived  at  Nazareth,  till  he 
was  thirty  years  of  age,  working  with  his  reputed  father  as  a  carpenter, 
and  during  the  latter  part  of  the  time,  as  is  supposed,  laboring  for  the  sup- 
port of  his  mother,  he  was  giving  an  example  of  humility.  When  he  said, 
"The  Son  of  man  came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister," 
Math  20 :  28 ;  and  again —  "  I  am  among  you  as  he  that  serveth,"  Luke 
22  :  27,  he  was  giving  an  example  of  humility.  When  he  borrowed  an  ass 
to  make  his  triumphal  entrance  into  Jerusalem ;  though  he  could  say  in 
truth,  "  every  beast  of  the  forest  is  mine,  and  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand 
hills;" — (Ps.  50:  10),  he  was  setting  an  example  of  humility.  When  he 
hid  himself,  away  from  the  people,  because  he  saw  that  they  wanted  to  take 
him  by  force  and  make  him  king,  he  was  giving  a  lesson  of  humility. 
When  he  allowed  himself  to  be  taken  prisoner,  though  he  knew  that  if  he 
had  asked  his  Father  in  heaven.  He  would,  at  once,  have  sent  "more  than 
twelve  legions  of  angels,"  to  deliver  him,  he  was  giving  an  example  of 
humility.  When  he  kept  silence,  at  the  bar  of  the  high-priest,  of  Herod, 
of  Pontius  Pilate,  like  "a  lamb  dumb  before  her  shearers,"  while  his 
enemies  were  charging  him  falsely,  with  all  kinds  of  wickedness ;  when 
he  allowed  the  Roman  soldiers  to  scourge  him  with  rods,  till  his  back  was 
all  bleeding;  to  put  a  crown  of  thorns  upon  his  head;  to  array  him  in  a 


CHRIST  TEACHING  HUMILITY.  6i  i 


purple  robe  in  mockery  of  his  being  a  king;  to  smite  him  with  the  palms 
of  their  hands,  and  spit  upon  him ;  and  then  to  nail  him  to  the  cross,  and 
put  him  to  the  most  shameful  of  all  deaths — as  if  he  were  a  wicked  man, 
who  did  not  deserve  to  live— he  was  giving  the  most  wonderful  example 
of  humility  that  ever  was  heard  of  Jesus,  the  Lord  of  glory  hanging  on 
the  shameful  cross !  —  O,  this  was  an  example  of  humility  that  must  have 
filled  the  angels  of  heaven  with  surprise,  and  wonder  I 

And  when  we  think  of  all  that  Jesus  did,  and  suffered,  to  set  us  an 
example  of  humility,  it  should  make  us  ashamed  of  being  proud  ;  and 
anxious,  above  all  things,  to  learn  this  lesson  which  he  did  so  much  to 
teach  us. 

Imitating  CJiyisfs  Humility. — I  think  I  never  heard  of  a  more  beau- 
tiful instance  of  persons  learning  to  imitate  the  humility  of  Christ,  than  is 
told  of  some  Moravian  Missionaries.  These  good  men  had  heard  the 
story  of  the  unhappy  slaves,  in  the  West  Indies.  Those  poor  creatures 
were  wearing  out  their  lives  in  hard  bondage.  They  had  very  little  com- 
fort in  this  life ;  and  no  knowledge  of  that  gracious  Saviour  who  alone 
can  secure,  for  sinful  creatures,  such  as  we  are,  a  better  portion  in  the  life 
to  come.  These  missionaries  offered  to  go  out  to  the  West  Indies,  and 
teach  those  slaves  about  Jesus,  and  the  great  salvation  that  is  to  be  found 
in  Him.  But  they  were  told  that  the  owners  of  the  slaves  would  not  let 
them  go  to  school,  or  to  church.  They  would  not  allow  them  to  take 
time  enough  from  their  work  to  learn  anything  about  the  salvation  of  their 
souls.  There  was  only  one  way,  in  which  those  poor  slaves  could  be 
taught  anything  about  Jesus,  and  his  love,  and  that  was,  for  those  who 
wished  to  teach  them,  to  go,  and  be  slaves  on  the  plantations,  to  work,  and 
toil,  if  need  be,  under  the  lash,  so  that  they  could  get  right  beside  them, 
and  then  tell  them  about  the  way  of  salvation  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
This  was  a  hard  thing  to  undertake.  But  those  good  missionaries  said 
they  were  willing  to  do  it.  And  they  not  only  said  it,  but  did  it.  They 
left  their  homes,  and  went  to  the  West  Indies.  They  worked  on  the  plan- 
tations as  slaves.  And  working  thus,  by  the  side  of  the  slaves,  they  got 
close  to  their  hearts.  The  slaves  heard  them.  Their  hearts  were  touched 
because  these  teachers  of  the  gospel  had  humbled  themselves  to  their 
condition      While  they  were  teaching  the  commands  of  Christ,  they  were 


6l2 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


illustrating  and  following  his  example.     How  beautiful  this  was!     How 

grand  !     How  glorious ! 

And  yet  Christ's  own  example  was  still   more  glorious.     He  laid 

aside  the  glory  of  his  Godhead,  and  came  down  from  heaven  to  earth,  that 

he  might  get  by  our 
side.  He  laid  himself 
beside  us  that  we  might 
feel  the  throbbings  of 
his  bosom,  and  the 
embrace  of  his  loving 
arms ;  and  he  draws  us 
close  to  himself,  while 
he  whispers  in  our  ears 
the  sweet  words,  "  God 
so  loved  the  world  that 
he  gave  his  only  be- 
gotten Son,  that  who- 
ever believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life. " 
And  so,  when  we 
think  of  the  example 
of  Christ,  we  should 
strive  to  learn  the  les- 
son of  humility  which 
he  taught. 

A  tJiird  reason 
wJiy  we  should  learn 
this  lesson  of  liiiniility 
is  becatise  of  the — com- 


He  kept  silence  at  the  bar  of  the  high  priest. 


FORT  —  tJiat  is  found  in  it. 

Just  think  for  a  moment  what  God  says  on  this  subject,  in  Isaiah  57 : 
15.  These  are  his  words  : — "Thussaith  the  high  and  mighty  One,  that 
inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy;  I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy 
place,  with  him  also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the 


CHRIST  TEACHING    HUMILITY.  613 

spirit  of  the  humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones."  Here, 
the  same  loving  Saviour,  who  gave  us  the  command  to  learn  the  lesson 
of  humility,  promises  to  give  comfort  to  all  who  learn  this  lesson.  And 
the  way  in  which  he  secures  this  comfort  to  them,  is  by  coming  and  dwell- 
ing in  their  hearts.  And  who  can  tell  what  a  comfort  it  is  for  a  poor 
pardoned  sinner  to  have  Jesus  — the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth —  dwelling 
in  his  heart?  It  is  his  presence  in  heaven  which  makes  those  who  dwell 
there  feel  so  happy.  This  is  what  David  taught,  when  he  looked  up  to 
aim,  and  said^ — -"In  thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy."  Ps.  16:  11.  And 
when  that  presence  is  felt,  here  on  earth,  it  gives  comfort  and  joy,  as  cer- 
tainly as  it  does  in  heaven.  It  was  the  presence  of  Jesus  which  enabled 
Paul  and  Silas  to  sing  at  midnight,  for  very  joyfulness,  in  the  prison  at 
Philippi,  though  their  feet  were  fastened  in  the  stocks,  and  their  backs 
were  torn,  and  bleeding  from  the  cruel  scourging  which  they  had  suffered. 
And  it  was  this  presence  of  Christ,  in  the  hearts  of  his  people,  that  good 
John  Newton  was  speaking  of,  in  one  of  his  sweet  hymns,  when  he  said : 

"  While  blest  with  a  sense  of  his  love 

A  palace,  a  toy  would  appear ; 
And  prisons  would  palaces  prove, 

If  Jesus  would  dwell  with  me  there." 

But  it  is  only  those  who  learn  the  lesson  of  humility  that  Jesus  will 
dwell  with.  He  says  himself,  "  If  any  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my 
words ;  and  My  Father  will  love  him ;  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and 
make  our  abode  with  him."  St.  John  14:  23.  And  among  the  words  of 
Christ  which  we  must  keep,  if  we  wish  him  to  dwell  in  our  hearts,  are 
those  in  which  he  commands  the  lesson  of  humility.  It  is  only  the  hum- 
ble with  whom  he  will  dwell.  For  "  every  one  that  is  proud  in  heart  is 
an  abomination  unto  the  Lord."     Prov.  16:  5. 

■    The  reason  why  so  many  people  are  unhappy  in  this  world,  is  that 
they  do  not  learn  the  lesson  of  humility. 

Learn  to  Stoop.— 1\^&  story  is  told  of  some  celebrated  man— I  think 
it  was  Dr.  Franklin— who  had  a  friend  visiting  him  on  one  occasion. 
When  the  gentleman  was  about  to  leave,  the  Doctor  accompanied  him  to 
the  front  door.     In  going  through  the  entry  there  was  a  low  beam  across 


6i4  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

it,  which  made  it  necessary  to  stoop,  in  order  to  avoid  being  struck  by  it. 
As  they  approached  it  the  Doctor  stooped  himself,  and  called  out  to  his 
friend  to  do  the  same.  He  did  not  heed  the  caution,  and  received  a 
severe  thump  on  his  head,  as  the  result  of  his  neglect.  In  bidding  him 
good-by,  the  Doctor  said — "  Learn  to  stoop,  my  friend  ;  and  it  will  save 
you  from  many  a  hard  knock,  as  you  go  on  through  life."  This  illustrates 
the  comfort  which  comes  from  learning  the  lesson  of  humility.  It  is  those 
who  are  unwilling  to  stoop ;  or  to  be  anything,  or  nothing,  as  God  wants 
them  to  be,  who  have  no  comfort. 

The  Fable  of  the  Oak  and  the  Violet. — In  a  large  garden  there  grew 
a  fine  oak  tree,  with  its  wide-spreading  branches ;  and  at  its  foot  there 
grew  a  sweet  and  modest  violet.  The  oak  one  day,  looked  down  in 
scorn  upon  the  violet,  and  said ;  "  You,  poor  little  thing,  will  soon  be 
dead  and  withered ;  for  you  have  no  strength,  no  size,  and  are  of  no  good 
to  anyone.  But  I  am  large  and  strong;  I  shall  still  live  for  ages,  and 
then  I  shall  be  made  into  a  large  ship  to  sail  on  the  ocean,  or  into  coffins 
to  hold  the  dust  of  princes." 

"Yes,"  answered  the  violet,  in  its  humility,  "God  has  given  yon 
strength,  and  me  sweetness.  I  offer  him  back  my  fragrance,  and  am 
thankful.  I  hope  to  die  fragrantly,  as  I  have  lived  fragrantly,  but  we  are 
both  only  what  God  made  us,  and  both  where  God  placed  us." 

Not  long  after  the  oak  was  struck  by  lightning  and  shivered  to  splin- 
ters. Its  end  was  to  be  burned.  But  the  violet  was  gently  gathered  by 
the  hand  of  a  Christian  lady,  who  carefully  pressed  it,  and  kept  it  for  years, 
in  the  leaves  of  her  Bible  to  refresh  herself  with  its  fragrance.  Here  we 
see  illustrated  the  dift^'erence  between  pride  and  humility. 

The  Secret  of  Comfort. — Some  years  ago  there  was  a  boy  who  had 
been  lame  from  his  birth.  He  was  a  bright  intelligent  boy,  but  he  was 
not  a  Christian.  As  he  grew  up,  with  no  other  prospect  before  him  but 
that  of  being  a  cripple  all  his  days,  he  was  very  unhappy.  As  he  sat  by 
his  window,  propped  up  in  his  chair,  and  saw  the  boys  playing  in  the 
street,  he  would  say  to  himself:  "Why  has  God  made  me  thus?  Why 
have  I  not  limbs  to  run  and  jump  with  like  other  boys  ?  " 

These  thoughts  filled  him  with  distress,  and  caused  him  to  shed 
many  bitter  tears. 


CHRIST  TEACHING  HUMILITY.  615 


One  day  a  Christian  friend,  who  was  visiting  him,  gave  him  a  book, 
and  requested  him  to  read  it.  He  did  so ;  and  it  led  to  his  becoming  a 
Christian.  His  heart  was  renewed  ;  the  burden  of  his  sin  was  removed ; 
and  the  love  of  God  was  shed  abroad  in  his  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 
He  learned  the  lesson  of  humble  submission  to  the  will  of  God.  After 
this,  as  he  looked  out,  and  saw  the  young  people  happy  at  their  sports ;  or, 
as  he  gazed  on  the  green  earth,  and  the  beautiful  sky,  and  knew  that  he 
must  remain  a  helpless  cripple  as  long  as  he  lived,  he  yet  could  say,  with 
the  utmost  cheerfulness : — "  It's  all  right.  My  Father  in  heaven  has  done 
it.  I  love  him.  He  loves  me.  I  know  he  is  making  all  things  work 
together  for  my  good."  He  had  learned  the  lesson  we  are  now  consider- 
ing, and  we  see  what  comfort  it  gave  him.  And  the  thought  of  the  com- 
fort which  this  lesson  gives,  should  be  a  good  reason  with  us  all  for 
learning  it. 

A  fourth  reason  why  we  should  learn  the  lesson  of  humility  is  because 
of  the  —  USEFULNESS  —  connected  with  it. 

Jesus  tells  us,  by  his  apostle,  that  "God  resisteth  the  proud,  but  giveth 
grace  to  the  humble."  St.  James  4:6.  If  we  have  the  grace  of  God  we 
can  be  useful  in  many  ways,  but,  without  that  grace  we  cannot  be  useful 
at  all.  And  this  is  what  our  Saviour  taught  his  disciples,  when  he  said  to 
thern — "without  me  ye  can  do  nothing."  St.  John  15  :  5.  By  the  words 
"  without  me  "  he  meant  without  my  help,  or  without  my  grace  ;  or  with- 
out the  help  of  my  grace.  And  it  was  of  this  grace  that  St.  Paul  was 
speaking  when  he  said — "  I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ  who 
strengtheneth  me."     Phil.  4:   13. 

And  we  could  not  possibly  have  a  stronger  reason  for  trying  to  learn 
the  lesson  of  humility  than  this,  that  our  receiving  the  grace  of  God,  and 
consequently  our  usefulness,  depends  upon  it.  God  will  not  give  us  his 
grace  to  enable  us  to  be  truly  good,  and  to  make  ourselves  useful,  unless 
we  learn  this  lesson.  And  unless  we  have  the  grace  of  God,  we  cannot 
be  useful.  Like  barren  fig-trees  we  shall  be  useless  cumberers  of  the 
ground. 

Now  let  us  look  at  one  or  two  illustrations  which  show  us  how  pride 
hinders  the  usefulness  of  men,  while  humility  helps  it. 

The  Fisherman  s  Mistake. — An  English  gentleman  was  spending  his 


6i6 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


summer  holidays  in  Scotland.  He  concluded  to  try  his  hand  at  fishing 
for  trout  in  one  of  the  neighboring  streams.  He  bought  one  of  the  hand- 
somest fishing  rods  he  could  find,  with  line  and  reel,  and  artificial  flies. 


He  gave  us  the  example  of  how  to  be  humble. 

and  everything  necessary  to  make  a  perfect  outfit  for  a  fisherman.  He 
went  to  the  trout  stream,  and  toiled  all  day,  but  never  caught  a  single 
fish. 


CHRIST  TEACHING  HUMILITY.  617 

Towards  the  close  of  the  day  he  saw  a  ragged  little  farmer  boy,  with 
a  bean  pole  for  a  rod,  and  the  simplest  possible  sort  of  a  line,  who  was 
nipping  the  fish  out  of  the  water,  about  as  fast  as  he  could  throw  his  line 
in.  He  watched  the  boy  in  amazement  for  awhile,  and  then  asked  him 
how  it  was  that  one,  with  so  fine  a  rod  and  line,  could  catch  no  fish,  while 
he  with  his  poor  outfit  was  catching  so  many.  The  boy's  prompt  reply 
was: — "  Ye'll  no  catch  ony  fish  Sir,  as  lang  as  ye  dinna  keep  yersel'  oot  o' 
sicht." 

The  gentleman  was  proud  of  his  handsome  rod  and  line,  and  was 
showing  it  off  all  the  time.  His  pride  hindered  his  usefulness  as  a  fisher- 
man. The  farmer's  boy  had  nothing  to  show  off;  so  he  kept  himself  out 
of  sight,  and  thus  his  humility  helped  his  usefulness  in  fishing. 

The  Thames  Tunnel  Teaching  Hiiniility. — Most  strangers  who  visit 
the  great  city  of  London  go  to  see  the  famous  tunnel  under  the  river 
Thames.  This  is  a  large,  substantial  road  that  has  been  built,  in  the  form 
of  an  arch,  directly  under  the  bed  of  the  river.  It  is  one  of  the  most  won-  ' 
derful  works  that  human  skill  ever  succeeded  in  making.  The  man  who 
planned  and  built  it  was  made  one  of  the  nobility  of  England.  His  name 
was  Sir  Isramond  Brunei.  He  was  so  humble  that  he  was  willing  to 
learn  a  lesson  from  a  tiny  little  ship  worm.  These  worms  bore  small 
round  holes  through  the  solid  timbers  of  our  ships. 

One  day  Mr.  Brunei  visited  a  ship-yard.  An  old  ship  was  on  the 
dry-dock  getting  repaired.  A  quantity  of  worm-eaten  timber  had  been 
taken  out  from  her  sides.  He  picked  up  one  of  these  pieces  of  timber, 
and  saw  a  worm  at  work,  boring  its  way  through.  If  he  had  been  a  proud 
man,  he  might  have  thrown  the  timber  aside,  and  said — "  Get  away,  you 
poor  little  worm.  I  am  a  great  master  builder.  You  can't  teach  me  any- 
thing." And  if  he  had  done  so  that  famous  tunnel  under  the  Thames 
would  probably  never  have  been  built.  But  Mr.  Brunei  had  learned  the 
icsson  of  humility.  He  was  willing  to  learn  from  anything  that  God  had 
made,  however  insignificant  it  might  be.  So  he  sat  down  and  watched 
the  worm  at  its  work.  He  studied  carefully  the  form  of  the  hole  it  was 
boring.  The  thought  occured  to  him  how  strong  a  tunnel  would  be,  that 
was  made  in  the  shape  of  this  hole  I  And  when  he  was  asked  whether  it 
would   be   possible  to   build   a   tunnel    under  the   Thames,  he  said   he 


6i8  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

thought  it  could  be  done.  He  undertook  to  build  it.  He  succeeded  in 
the  work.  But,  in  accomplishing  the  great  undertaking  that  little  ship- 
worm  was  his  teacher. 

And  now,  if  any  of  my  young  friends  who  may  read  this  book,  should 
ever  visit  London,  and  go  to  see  the  great  tunnel,  as  they  gaze  in  wonder 
at  it,  let  them  remember  Sir  I.  Brunei,  and  that  little  ship-worm;  and 
then,  let  them  say  to  themselves :  "  This  mighty  tunnel  is  an  illustration 
of  the  truth  that  humility  helps  to  make  us  useful." 

General  IVashiugtoii  and  His  Htimility. — Here  is  a  story  connected 
with  the  great  and  good  Washington — "  the  Father  of  his  country,"  which 
illustrates  very  well  this  part  of  our  subject. 

During  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution,  the  commander  of  a 
little  squad  of  soldiers,  was  superintending  their  operations  as  they  were 
trying  to  raise  a  heavy  piece  of  timber  to  the  top  of  some  military  works, 
which  they  were  engaged  in  repairing.  It  was  hard  work  to  get  the  tim- 
ber up,  and  so  the  commander,  who  was  a  proud  man  and  thought 
himself  of  great  importance,  kept  calling  out  to  them  from  time  to  time, 
"  Push  away,  boys  !     There  she  goes  !     Heave  ho  !  " 

While  this  was  going  on,  an  officer  on  horseback,  but  not  in  military 
dress,  rode  by.  He  asked  the  commander  why  he  did  not  take  hold,  and 
give  the  men  a  little  help.  He  looked  at  the  stranger  in  great  astonish- 
ment, and  then,  with  all  the  pride  of  an  emperor,  said: 

"  Sir,  I'd  have  you  know  that  I  am  a  corporal !  " 

"You  are  —  are  you?"  replied  the  officer,  "  I  was  not  aware  of  that," 
and  then  taking  off  his  hat,  and  making  a  low  bow,  saijd,  "  I  ask  your 
pardon  Mr.  Corporal." 

After  this  he  got  off  his  horse,  and  throwing  aside  his  coat,  he  took 
hold  and  helped  the  men  at  their  work  till  they  got  the  timber  into 
its  place.  By  this  time  the  perspiration  stood  in  drops  upon  his  forehead. 
He  took  out  his  handkerchief  and  wiped  his  brow.  Then  turning  to  the 
commander  he  said  : — 

"  Mr.  Corporal,  when  you  have  another  such  job  on  hand,  and  have 
not  men  enough  to  do  it,  send  for  your  Commander-in-chief,  and  I  will 
come  and  help  you  again." 

It  was  General  Washington  who  did  and  said  this.     The  Corporal 


CHRIST  TEACHING    HUMlLITY. 


619 


was  thunderstruck !  The  great  Washington,  though  honored  above  all 
men  on  the  continent,  was  humble  enough  to  put  his  hand  and  shoulder 
to  the  timber,  that  he  might  help  the  humblest  of  his  soldiers,  who  were 
struggling  for  the  defence  of  their  country,  to  bear  the  burdens  appointed 
to  them. 

This  is  an  excellent  illustration  of  the  truth  we  are  now  considering. 


Joshua  did  as  he  was  commanded. 

And  certainly  we  should  all  try  to  learn  the  lesson  of  humility  which  Jesus 
taught,  when  we  see  how  it  helps  to  make  us  useful. 

And  then  there  is  one  other  reason  why  ive  should  learn  this  lesson, 
and  that  is  because  of  the  —  blessing  —  that  attends  it 

Mary,  the  Mother  of  Jesus,  in  her  noble  song  about  the  birth  of  her 
wonderful  Son,  said  that  God  "filleth  the  hungry  with  good  things,  and 


620  THE  "LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

sendeth  the  rich  empty  away."  By  the  ''  liiiiigyy"  she  meant  the  humble, 
and  by  the  "  rich  "  the  proud.  And  the  "  good  things  "  with  which  God 
fills  them,  mean  the  blessings  He  bestows  on  the  humble.  Our  Saviour 
taught  the  same  truth  when  he  said,  "he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be 
exalted."  Luke  14:  11.  Being  exalted  here  means  being  honored  and 
blessed.  These  passages  teach  very  clearly  the  truth  of  which  we  are  now 
speaking.  They  show  us  that  we  must  learn  the  lesson  of  humility  if  we 
hope  to  have  God's  blessing  rest  upon  us.  And  it  is  not  more  true  that 
two  and  two  make  four,  than  it  is  that  God's  blessing  does  attend,  and  fol- 
low those  who  learn  the  lesson  of  humility. 

How  many  illustrations  of  this  truth  we  find  in  the  Bible !  Moses 
had  learned  the  lesson  of  humility  before  God  sent  him  on  his  great  mis- 
sion, which  has  given  him  a  name,  and  a  place  among  the  most  famous 
men  of  the  world. 

Gideon  had  learned  the  lesson  of  humility,  before  God  made  choice 
of  him  to  be  the  deliverer  of  his  people  Israel  from  the  hands  of  their 
enemies ;  and  then,  for  years,  to  be  their  honored  ruler.  John  the  Baptist 
was  so  humble  that  he  said  of  himself  that  he  was  not  worthy  to  stoop 
down,  and  unloose  the  latchet  of  our  Saviour's  feet;  and  yet  Jesus  said 
of  him  that  he  was  one  of  the  greatest  men  that  ever  had  been  born. 

The  apostle  Paul  was  so  humble  that  he  considered  him  "  less  than 
■  the  least  of  all  saints,"  and  "  the  chief  of  sinners;"  and  yet  God  honored 
and  blessed  him  till  he  became  the  most  famous  and  useful  of  all 
the  apostles. 

If  we  turn  from  the  Bible,  and  look  out  into  the  world  around  us,  we 
may  compare  proud  people  to  the  tops  of  the  mountains;  these  are  bare 
and  barren,  and  of  little  use  to  the  world.  We  may  compare  humble 
people  to  the  plains  and  valleys.  These  are  fertile  and  beautiful,  and  are 
the  greatest  blessing  to  the  world,  in  the  abundance  of  grain,  and  fruit, 
and  other  good  things  which  they  yield. 

And  then,  if  we  take  notice  of' what  is  occurring  in  the  scenes  of  daily 
life,  we  shall  meet  with  incidents  continually,  which  furnish  us  with  illus- 
trations of  the  part  of  our  subject  now  before  us,  that  God  crowns  the 
humble  with  his  blessing.  Let  us  look  at  one  or  two  of  these  illustrations. 
The  Little  Loaf. — In  a  certain  part  of  Germany,  some  years  ago,  a 


621 


622  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

famine  was  prevailing,  and  many  of  the  people  were  suffering  from 
hunger.  A  kind-hearted  rich  man,  sent  for  twenty  of  the  poorest  children 
in  the  village  where  he  lived,  to  come  to  his  house.  As  they  stood  on 
the  porch  of  his  house,  he  came  out  to  them  bringing  a  large  basket  in 
his  hand.  He  set  it  down  before  him  and  said:  "Children,  in  this 
basket  there  is  bread  for  you  all.  Take  a  loaf,  each  of  you,  and  come 
back  every  day  at  this  hour,  till  it  shall  please  God  to  send  us  better 
times." 

Then  he  left  the  children  to  themselves,  and  went  into  the  house, 
but  watched  them  through  the  window.  The  hungry  children  seized  the 
basket,  quarreled  and  struggled  for  the  bread,  because  each  of  them 
wished  to  get  the  best  and  largest  loaf  Then  they  went  away  without 
ever  thanking  the  good  gentleman  for  his  kindness. 

But  one  little  girl,  named  Gretchen,  poorly  but  neatly  dressed, 
remained,  humbly  standing  by,  till  the  rest  were  gone.  Then  she  took  the 
last  loaf  left  in  the  basket,  the  smallest  of  the  lot.  She  looked  up  to  the 
window  where  the  gentleman  stood  ;  smiled  at  him ;  threw  him  a  kiss, 
and  made  a  low  curtsey  in  token  of  her  gratitude,  and  then  went  quickly 
home. 

The  next  day  the  other  children  were  just  as  ill-behaved,  as  they  had 
been  before,  and  the  timid  humble  Gretchen  received  a  loaf  this  time  not 
more  than  half  the  size  of  the  one  she  had  on  the  previous  day.  But 
when  she  came  home,  and  her  poor  sick  mother  cut  the  loaf  open,  a  num- 
ber of  new  silver  pieces  of  money,  fell  rattling  and  shining  out  of  it. 

Her  mother  was  frightened,  and  said,  "Take  the  money,  back  at 
once,  to  the  good  gentleman  ;  for  it  must  certainly  have  dropped  into  the 
dough  by  accident.     Be  quick,  Gretchen  !  be  quick !  " 

But  when  the  little  girl  came  to  the  good  man,  and  gave  him  her 
mother's  message,  he  kindly  said,  "  No,  no,  my  child,  it  was  no  mistake. 
I  had  the  silver  pieces  put  into  the  smallest  loaf  as  a  reward  for  you. 
Continue  to  be  as  humble,  peaceable,  self-denying,  and  grateful  as  you 
have  now  shown  yourself  to  be.  A  little  girl  who  is  humble  enough  to 
take  the  smallest  loaf  rather  than  quarrel  for  the  larger  ones,  will  be  sure 
to  receive  greater  blessings  from  God  than  if  she  had  silver  pieces  of 
money  baked  in  every  loaf  of  bread  of  which  she  ate.     Go  home  now,  and 


CHRIST  TEACHING  HUMILITY.  623 

greet  your  good  mother  very  kindly  for  me."  Here  we  see  how  God's 
blessing  attends  the  humble. 

Hiunility  Proving  a  Blessing. — Some  time  ago  a  young  man  went 
into  the  office  of  one  of  the  largest  dry-goods  houses  in  New  York,  and 
asked  for  a  situation.     He  was  told  to  call  again  another  day. 

Going  down  Broadway  that  same  afternoon,  when  opposite  the  Astor 
House,  he  saw  an  old  apple  woman,  in  trying  to  cross  the  street,  struck 
by  an  omnibus,  knocked  down,  and  her  basket  of  apples  sent  scattering 
into  the  gutter. 

The  young  man  stepped  out  of  the  crowd,  helped  the  old  woman  to 
her  feet,  put  her  apples  into  her  basket,  and  went  on  his  way,  without 
thinking  of  it. 

Now  a  proud  man  would  never  have  thought  of  doing  such  a  thing 
as  that  But  this  young  man  had  learned  the  lesson  of  humility,  and  did 
not  hesitate  a  moment  to  do  this  kind  act. 

When  he  called  again  to  see  about  the  situation,  he  was  asked  what 
wages  he  expected.  He  stated  what  he  thought  would  be  right.  His  pro- 
posal was  accepted.     The  situation  was  given  him,  and  he  went  to  work. 

About  a  year  afterwards,  his  employer  took  him  aside  one  day, 
reminded  him  of  the  incident  about  the  old  apple  woman  ;  told  him  he 
was  passing  at  the  time,  and  saw  it ;  and  that  it  was  this  circumstance 
which  induced  him  to  offer  the  vacant  situation  to  him,  in  preference  to  a 
hundred  others  who  were  applying  for  it. 

Here  we  see  what  a  blessing  this  young  man's  humility  proved  to  him ! 

And  thus  we  see  that  there  are  five  good  reasons  why  we  should 
learn-  the  lesson  of  humility.  These  are  the  command  of  Christ;  the 
example  of  Christ;  the  comfort  that  humility  gives;  the  usefulness  to  which 
it  leads ;  and  the  blessing  that  attends  it. 

The  first  verse,  of  the  hymn  we  often  sing,  contains  a  very  suitable 
prayer  to  offer  when  we  think  of  the  lesson  of  humility,  we  have  now  been 
considering: — 

"  Lord  forever  at  thy  side 

Let  my  place  and  portion  be ; 
Strip  me  of  the  robe  of  pride 

Clothe  me  with  humility." 


CHRIST  AND  THE  LITTLE  CHILDREN. 


"F,  when  Jesus  was  here,  on  earth,  he  had  shown  a 
great  interest  in  kings,  and  princes,  in  rich,  and 
wise,  and  great  men,  it  would  not  have  been  sur- 
prising; because  he  was  a  king,  and  a  prince, 
himself;  he  was  richer  than  the  richest,  and  wiser 
than  the  wisest,  and  greater  than  the  greatest. 
But  he  did  not  do  this.  He  took  no  particular 
notice  of  them ;  but  he  showed  the  greatest  pos- 
sible interest  in  children.  When  mothers  brought 
their  little  ones  to  him,  the  disciples  wanted  to 
keep  them  away.  They  thought,  no  doubt,  that 
he  was  too  busy  to  take  any  notice  of  them. 
But  they  were  mistaken.  He  was  very  busy  indeed.  He  had  many  les- 
sons to  teach.  He  had  sermons  to  preach;  and  sick  people  to  heal;  and 
blind  eyes  to  open;  and  deaf  ears  to  unstop;  and  lame  men  to  make 
whole;  and  dead  men  to  raise  to  life  again.  He  had  all  his  Father's  will 
to  make  known  to  men ;  and  all  his  Father's  commandments  to  keep. 
He  had  to  suffer,  and  to  die  for  the  sins  of  the  world ;  that  he  might 
624 


CHRIST   AND    THE    LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


625 


"  open  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  beUevers."  He  was  the  busiest  man 
that  ever  lived.  No  body  ever  had  so  much  to  do  as  he  had.  And  yet, 
he  was  not  too  busy  to  attend  to  the  little  children.  He  had  time  to  give 
to  them.  So  he  rebuked  his  disciples  for  trying  to  keep  the  children  away 
from  him.  He  told  the  mothers  to  bring  them  near.  They  did  so.  And 
then,  one  by  one,  "  he  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his  hands  upon  thern 
and  blessed  them."     And  when  he  had  done  this,  as  though  that  were  not 


Jesus  made  the  children  come  to  him. 

enough,  he  spoke  those  precious,  glorious,  golden  words :— "  Suffer  the 
little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven;'  "verily  I  say  unto  you,  whosoever  shall  not  receive  the 
kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  not  enter  therein." 

These  things  are  told  us  by  three  of  the  Evangelists.  St.  Matthew 
mentions  them  in  chapter  xix  :  13-15.  St.  Mark  x:  13-16,  and  St.  Luke 
xviii :   15-17. 


626  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

On  another  occasion,  when  he  was  in  the  temple,  the  children  sang 
hosannas  to  him  as  the  son  of  David.  The  chief  priests  and  scribes  were 
greatly  displeased,  when  they  heard  it,  and  "said  unto  him,  hearest  thou 
what  these  say  ?  and  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  yea :  have  ye  never  read,  out 
of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  perfected  praise  ?"  Matth. 
xxi :  15,  16.  Here  he  quoted  from  the  Old  Testament  (Ps.  viii:  2)  to 
prove  to  them  from  their  own  scriptures,  that  God  loves  little  children, 
and  delights  to  have  them  engage  in  his  service,  and  sing  his  praises. 

And  there  was  one  other  occasion  on  which  Jesus  spoke  about  the 
children,  and  showed  his  interest  in  them.  This  was  after  his  resurrection. 
We  read  about  it  in  St.  John  xxi:  15-18.  He  met  his  disciples,  one  day, 
on  the  shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee.  Peter,  who  had  shamefully  denied  his 
Master,  on  the  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed,  was  present  with  them. 
Jesus  said  to  him,  as  if  to  remind  him  of  his  great  sin,  "  Simon,  son  of 
Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  ?"  "Yea,  Lord,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee,"  said 
the  penitent  disciple.  "Feed  my  lambs," — was  his  Master's  reply.  Here 
again,  how  beautifully  Jesus  showed  his  great  love  for  the  little  ones  of 
his  flock ! 

From  these  different  passages,  we  see  clearly,  how  dear  little  children 
are  to  the  heart  of  our  blessed  Saviour!  He  is  the  only  great  Teacher 
who  ever  showed  such  an  interest  in  children.  And  the  religion  of  Jesus, 
is  the  only  religion,  which  teaches  its  followers  to  love,  and  care  for  the 
little  ones.  The  worshippers  of  the  idol  Moloch,  mentioned  in  the  Bible, 
used  to  offer  their  children  as  burnt-sacrifices  to  their  cruel  god.  Maho- 
metans look  upon  their  women  and  children  as  inferior  beings.  The 
Hindoos  neglect  their  infants,  and  leave  them  exposed,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ganges,  or  throw  them  into  the  river  to  be  devoured  by  the  hungry 
crocodiles.  In  the  city  of  Pekin  many  infants  are  thrown  out  into  the 
streets  every  night.  Sometimes  they  are  killed  by  the  fall.  Sometimes 
they  are  only  half  killed,  and  linger,  moaning  in  their  agony,  till  the 
morning.  Then  the  police  go  around,  and  pick  them  up,  and  throw  them 
all  together  into  a  hole,  and  bury  them. 

In  Africa,  the  children  are  sometimes  buried  alive;  and  sometimes 
left  out  in  the  fields,  or  forests,  for  the  wild  beasts  to  devour  them.  In 
the  South  Sea  Islands  three-fourths,  of  all  the  children  born,  used  to  be 


CHRIST  AND    THE  LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


627 


killed.  Sometimes  they  would  strangle  their  babies.  Sometimes  they 
would  leave  them,  where  the  oxen  and  cattle  would  tread  on  them,  and 
trample  them  to  death ;  while,  at  other  times,  they  would  break  all  their 
joints,  beginning  with  their  fingers  and  toes,  and  then  go  on  to  their 
wrists,  and  elbows,  and  shoulders.  How  dreadful  it  is  to  think  of  such 
practices !  And  when  we  turn,  from  these  scenes  of  heart-rending  cruelty, 
and  think  of  the  gracious  Saviour, — the  "  gentle  Jesus,  meek  and  mild," 
stretching  forth  his  arms  in  loving  tenderness,  and  uttering  the  sweet 


The  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 


words, — "Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not, 
for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven," — what  a  wonderful  contrast  it 
makes ! 

And  when  we  think  of  all  that  Jesus  did,  and  said  to  show  his  interest 
in  children,  we  may  well  ask  ourselves  such  questions  as  these, — Why 
was  it  so  ?  What  did  he  do  it  for?  And  when  we  come  to  look  carefully, 
into  this  part  of  the  life  of  Christ,  we  can  see  four  great  things  in  it;  and 
these  are  the  reasons  why  Jesus  did,  and  said  so  much  about  children. 


62S  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

In  the  first  place  we  see — Great  Love — /;/  the  interest  Christ  mani- 
fested towards  the  young. 

It  was  the  same  love  which  brought  him  down  from  heaven,  and 
made  him  wilHng  to  become  a  Httle  child  himself;  the  same  love  which 
made  him  willing  to  live  in  poverty — and  suffer  the  dreadful  death  upon 
the  cross,  that  led  him  to  show  such  interest  in  the  little  ones.  But  if  he 
had  not  told  us  himself,  how  he  feels  on  this  subject,  we  could  not  have 
been  sure  of  it.  Children  might  well  have  said,  when  they  heard  about 
the  love  of  Christ,  "Yes,  we  have  no  doubt  that  Jesus  does  love  grown 
up  people,  men  and  women  in  general.  We  believe  this  because  the 
Bible  tells  us  so  ;  but  how  do  we  know  that  he  loves  us  children  ?  "  If  he 
had  not  told  us  so  himself,  we  could  not  have  been  sure  of  it.  But  we 
know  it  now.  And  when  we  hear,  or  read  of  the  love  of  Christ,  we  may 
be  sure  that  it  takes  the  children  in. 

During  a  famine  in  Germany,  a  family  became  so  poor  that  they  were 
in  danger  of  starving.  The  father  proposed  that  one  of  the  children 
should  be  sold,  and  food  provided,  for  those  that  remained.  At  last  the 
mother  consented ;  but  then  the  question  arose  which  one  of  the  four 
should  be  selected.  The  eldest,  their  first-born,  could  not  be  spared  ;  the 
second  looked  like  the  mother,  the  third  was  like  his  father,  and  they 
could  not  give  either  of  them  up ;  and  then  the  youngest — why,  he  was 
their  pet,  their  darling,  how  could  they  give  Imn  up  ?  So  they  concluded 
that  they  would  all  perish  together,  rather  than  part  with  one  of  their  little 
ones.  When  those  children  knew  of  this,  they  might  very  well  feel  sure 
that  their  parents  loved  them.  But  Jesus  did  more  than  this  for  us,  he 
was  willing  to  die  upon  the  cross,  and  he  did  so  die,  that  "  not  one  of  his 
little  ones  should  perish." 

Being  Loved  Back  Again. — Little  Alice  Lee  sat  in  her  rocking  chair. 
She  was  clasping  a  beautiful  wax  doll  to  her  bosom,  and  singing  sweet 
lullabies  to  it.  But  every  little  while  she  looked  wistfully  at  her  mother. 
She  was  busy  writing,  and  had  told  Alice  to  keep  as  quiet  as  possible  till 
she  got  through. 

It  seemed  a  long  time  to  Alice ;  but  after  awhile  her  mother  laid  down 
her  pen,  and  pushed  aside  her  papers,  and  said  : — "  Now  I  am  through  for 
to-day,  Alice,  and  you  can  make  as  much  noise  as  you  please." 


CHRIST  AND     THE    LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


629 


630  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

In  a  moment  Alice  laid  down  her  doll,  and  running  to  her  mother, 
threw  her  arms  round  her  neck,  and  nestled  sweetly  in  her  loving  bosom. 

"  I'm  so  glad,"  said  Alice,  "  I  wanted  to  love  you  so  much,  mamma." 

"  Did  you,  darling  ?"  and  the  mother  clasped  the  little  one  tenderly 
in  her  arms.  "I  am  very  glad  that  my  little  girl  loves  me;"  replied  her 
mother,  "  but  I  thought  you  were  not  very  lonely  while  I  was  writing ;  you 
and  dollie  seemed  to  be  having  a  good  time  together." 

"Yes,  we  had,  mamma;  but  I  always  get  tired  of  loving  dollie  after 
awhile." 

"  Do  you,  dear  ?     Tell  me  why  ?" 

"  O,  because  she  never  loves  me  back  again." 

"And  is  that  why  you  love  me?" 

"That  is  one  why,  mamma;  but  not  the  first  one,  or  the  best  one." 

"  And  what  is  the  first,  and  best  ?" 

"  Why,  mamma,  can't  you  guess  ?"  and  the  little  girl's  blue  eyes  grew 
very  bright,  as  they  gazed  earnestly  into  her  mother's  face.  "  It's  because 
you  loved  me  when  I  was  too  little  to  love  you  back ;  tliafs  why  I  love 
you  so." 

And  what  a  reason  this  is  why  we  should  love  Jesus!  He  loved  us 
when  we  were  too  little  to  love  him  back.  The  Bible  says — "We  love 
him  because  Jie  first  \ovz<\  us."  He  loved  us  before  we  knew  him,  or  had 
ever  heard  of  him.  He  loved  us  before  we  were  born.  Before  the  world 
was  made  Jesus  thought  of  you  and  me,  and  loved  us.  This  is  what  he 
means  when  he  says: — ''  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  lover  Jer. 
xxxi :  3.  This  means  a  love  that  never  had  a  beginning,  and  that  will 
never  have  an  end.  This  is  very  wonderful.  And  when  we  think  of  it, 
we  may  well  sing  out  our  thankfulness  in  the  words  of  the  hymn : — 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  our  Father  in  heaven 
Tells  of  his  love  in  the  Book  he  has  given ; 
Wonderful  things  in  the  Bible  I  see; 
This  is  the  sweetest,  that  Jesus  loves  me. 

I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me, 

Jesus   loves — even  me"  • 

And  when  we  think  of  all   the  kind  words,  and  actions  of  Jesus,  by 


CHRIST   AND    THE    LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


631 


which  he  showed  his  interest  in  httle  children,  the  first  thino-  that  we  see 
in  them  is— great  love. 

Now,  let  us  take  another  look  at  this  part  of  our  Saviours  life,  and  the 
second  thing  that  we  see  in  it  is — Great  Wisdom. 


jQ^a/j^unuf^A  N^ 


The  Children  cried  Hosannas. 


It  is  wise  to  take  care  of  the  children,  and  try  to  bring"  them  to 
Jesus  when  young,  because  then  they  are  easily  controlled. 

Suppose  we  plant  an  acorn  in  a  corner  of  our  garden.  After  awhile 
a  green  shoot  spri.ngs  out  from  it.  We  go  to  look  at  it  when  it  is  about  a 
foot  high.     We  find  it  getting  crooked ;  but  with  the  gentlest  touch  of 


632  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

thumb  and  finj^er,  we  can  straighten  it  out.  We  wish  it  to  lean  in  a  par- 
ticular direction.  We  give  it  a  slight  touch,  and  it  leans  just  that  way. 
Afterwards  we  conclude  to  have  it  lean  in  the  opposite  direction.  Another 
slight  touch,  and  it  takes  that  direction.  It  is  true,  as  the  poet  says,  "Just 
as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree's  inclined."  But,  suppose  we  let  it  grow  for 
twenty  or  thirty  years,  and  then  come  back  to  it.  It  is  now  a  great  oak 
tree.  There  is  an  ugly  twist  in  its  trunk.  We  try  to  straighten  it  out ; 
but  in  vain.  No  power  on  earth  can  do  that  now.  You  can  cut  it  down ; 
or  saw  it  up ;  or  break  it  into  splinters ;  but  you  cannot  straighten  it. 

Suppose,  that  you  and  I  should  go  to  one  of  the  highest  summits  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  a  certain  place  there,  we  should  find  two  little 
fountains  springing  up,  near  each  other.  With  the  end  of  a  finger  we 
might  trace  the  course  in  which  either  of  those  little  springs  should  flow. 
We  could  lead  one  down  the  eastern  side  of  the  mountains,  and  the  other 
down  the  western  side.  It  would  be  very  easy  to  control  them  then.  But 
suppose  now  we  travel  down  the  side  of  the  mountain  till  we  reach  the 
plain,  at  its  base.  Now  see,  yonder  is  a  great  river,  rolling  on  its  mighty 
flood  of  waters.  That  is  what  the  little  spring  has  .grown  to.  It  is  too 
late  to  control  it  now.  The  time  for  controlling  it  was  up  yonder  near 
the  spring.  It  is  easy  to  control  the  spring ;  it  is  very  hard  to  control  the 
river.  Jesus  wished  to  control  the  spring,  when  he  directed  us  to  bring 
the  children  to  him.     And  in  this  he  showed  his  wisdom. 

It  is  wise  to  take  an  interest  in  children,  and  bring  them  early  to 
Jesus — because  they  have  great  influence  in  the  world. 

Who  can  tell  the  influence  that  children  are  exerting  in  the  world  ? 
We  have  an  illustration  of  this  in  the  words  that  were  once  spoken  by 
Themistocles,  the  celebrated  Grecian  governor,  and  general.  He  had  a 
little  boy,  of  whom  his  mother  was  very  fond,  and  over  whom  the  child 
had  very  great  influence.  His  father  pointed  to  him,  one  day,  and  said  to 
a  friend,  "  Look  at  that  child;  he  has  more  power  than  all  Greece.  For 
the  city  of  Athens  rules  Greece ;  I  rule  Athens ;  that  child's  mother  rules 
me,  and  he  rules  his  mother." 

I  feel  sure  our  Saviour  must  have  felt,  very  much  as  some  one  has 
done,  who  writes,  in  this  way,  about, — 


G^ 


^" 


XTV, 


V<^,  ,•/? 


\#V 


o 


"A  dreary  place  would  be  this  earth 
Were  there  no  little  people  in  it; 

The  song  of  life  would  lose  its  mirth 
Were  there  no  children  to  begin  it; 


o> 


No  little  forms,   like  buds  to  grow, 

And  make  the  admiring  heart  surrender; 

No  little  hands,  on  breast  and  brow, 
To  keep  the  thrilling  love-chords  tender. 


W4 


No  babe  within  our  arms  to  leap, 

No  little  feet  towards  slumber  tending; 

No  little  knee  in  prayer  to  bend, 

Our  loving  lips  the  sweet  words  lending. 


*o 


Lite's  song  indeed  would  lose  its  charm, 
Were  there-  no  babies  to  begin  it ; 

A  doleful  place  this  world  would  be, 
Were  there  no  little  people  in  it." 


633 


634  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

And  if  children  have  so  great  an  influence  in  the  world  it  was  wise 
in  Jesus  to  desire  to  have  them  brought  early  to  him  that  they  might 
learn  to  use  that  influence  in  the  best  possible  way. 

And  then  it  was  wise  in  Jesus  to  desire  this  again,  because  bringing 
children  to  him  prevents  great  trouble,  and  secures  great  blessing. 

We  are  all  familiar  with  Dr.  Watts'  sweet  hymn,  which  says: 

"  'Twill  save  us  from  a  thousand  snares 
To  mind  religion  young." 

Here  is  a  striking  illustration  of  this  truth  in  the  history  of — One  Ne- 
glected Child. 

A  good  many  years  ago,  in  one  of  the  upper  counties  of  New  York, 
there  was  a  little  girl  named  Margaret.  She  was  not  brought  to  Christ, 
but  was  turned  out  on  the  world  to  do  as  she  pleased.  She  grew  up  to  be 
perhaps  the  wickedest  woman  in  that  part  of  the  country.  She  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  who  became  about  as  wicked  as  herself;  her  descend- 
ants have  been  a  plague  and  a  curse  to  that  county  ever  since.  The  re- 
cords of  that  county  show  that  two  hundred  of  her  descendants  have  been 
criminals.  In  a  single  generation  of  her  descendants  there  were  twenty 
children.  Three  of  these  died  in  infancy.  Of  the  remaining  seventeen, 
who  lived  to  grow  up,  nine  were  sent  to  the  state  prison  for  great  crimes; 
while  all  the  others  were  found,  from  time  to  time,  in  the  jails,  the  peniten- 
tiaries, or  the  almshouses.  Nearly  all  the  descendants  of  this  woman 
were  idiots,  or  drunkards,  or  paupers,  or  bad  people,  of  the  very  worst 
character.  That  one  neglected  child  thus  cost,  the  county  in  which  she 
lived,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars,  besides  the  untold  evil  that 
followed  from  the  bad  examples  of  her  descendants.  How  different  the 
result  would  have  been  if  this  poor  child  had  been  brought  to  Jesus,  and 
made  a  Christian  when  she  was  young  I 

The  Result  of  Early  Choice. — Here  is  a  short  story  of  two  boys,  of 
the  choice  they  made  when  young,  and  the  different  results  that  followed 
from  that  choice. 

A  minister  of  the  gospel  was  preaching,  on  one  occasion,  to  the  con- 
victs in  the  state  prison  of  Connecticut.    As  he  rose  in  the  desk,  and  looked 


CHRIST   AND    THE    LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


635 


around  on  the  congregation,  he  saw  a  man  there  whose  face  seemed  fa- 
miliar to  him.  When  the  service  was  over  lie  went  to  this  man's  cell,  to 
have  some  conversation  with  him. 

"  1  remember  you  very  well,  sir,"  said  the  prisoner.  "We  were  boys 
in  the  same  neighborhood;  we  went  to  the  same  school;  sat  beside  each 
other  on  the  same  bench,  and  then  my  prospects  were  as  bright  as 
yours.  But,  at  the  age  of 
fourteen,  you  made  choice  of 
the  service  of  God,  and  be- 
came a  Christian.  I  refused 
to  come  to  Christ,  but  made 
choice  of  the  world  and  sin. 
And  now,  you  are  a  happy 
and  honored  minister  of  the 
gospel,  while  I  am  a  wretch- 
ed outcast.  I  have  served 
ten  years  in  this  penitentiary, 
and  am  to  be  a  prisoner  here 
for  life." 

Jesus  knew  what  bless- 
ings would  follow  to  those 
who  were  early  brought  to 
him,  and  we  see  that  there 
was  great  wisdom  in  the 
words  that  he  spake  when  he 
said— "Suffer  the  little  child- 
ren to  come  unto  me." 

In  the  next  place  there 
was  — ■  Great  Encourage- 
ment— ill  what  yesits  did  and  said  abont  children. 

If  a  company  of  boys  or  girls  should  try  to  get  into  the  presence  of 
Queen  Victoria,  or  some  great  king,  or  emperor,  they  would  find  it  a  pretty 
hard  thing  to  do.  At  the  door  of  the  palace  they  would  meet  with  sol- 
diers or  servants,  the  guards  of  the  queen  or  king.  They  would  say  to  the 
children—"  what  do  vou  want  here  ?"     And  if  the  children  should  say, 


He  was  willing  to  die  on  the  Cross. 


636  THE     LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

"  Please  sir,  we  wish  to  go  into  th€  palace  and  see  the  queen,"  the  answer 
would  be:  "Go  away;  go  away.  The  queen  is  too  busy.  She  has  no 
time  to  attend  to  little  folks  like  you."  And  the  children  would  have  to 
go  away,  without  getting  to  see  the  queen. 

But,  Jesus  is  a  greater  king  than  any  who  ev^er  sat  upon  an  earthly 
throne.  He  has  more  to  do  than  all  the  kings  and  queens  in  the  world 
put  together.  And  yet  he  never  gave  orders  to  the  angels,  or  to  any  of 
his  servants  to  keep  the  children  away  from  him.  On  his  great  throne  in 
yonder  heavens  he  says  still,  what  he  said  when  he  was  on  earth — "  Suffer 
the  little  children  to  come  unto  me :  and  forbid  them  not."  And  he  says 
this  on  purpose  to  encourage  the  children  to  come  to  him.  And  the 
thought  that  Jesus  loves  them,  and  feels  an  interest  in  them  has  encour- 
aged multitudes  of  little  ones  to  seek  him  and  serve  him."  Here  are  some 
illustrations  of  this. 

Learning  to  Love  yesus. — "  A  little  girl  came  to  me  one  day,"  said 
a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  said,  "Please  sir,  may  I  speak  to  you  a 
minute  ?"  I  saw  that  she  was  in  some  trouble  ;  so  I  took  her  kindly 
by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  Certainly,  my  child.  What  do  you  wish  to 
say.'' 

"  Please,  sir,"  said  she,  as  her  lip  quivered,  and  tears  filled  her  eyes, 
"it's  a  dreadful  thing;  but  I  don't  love  Jesus." 

"And  are  you  not  going  to  love  him  ?"  I  asked. 

"I  don't  know;  but  please  sir,  I  want  you  to  tell  me  how."  She 
spoke  sadly,  as  if  it  was  something  she  never  could  do. 

"  Well,"  I  said,  "  St.  John,  who  loved  our  Lord  almost  more  than  any 
one  else  ever  did,  says  that  '  we  love  him  because  he  first  loved  us.'  Now 
if  you  go  home  to-night,  saying  in  your  heart,  '  Jestts  loves  me',  I  think 
that  to-morrow,  you  will  be  able  to  say — '  I  love  Jesus.'  " 

She  looked  up  through  her  tears,  and  repeated  the  words  very  softly, 
"Jesus  loves  me."  She  began  to  think  about  it,  on  her  way  home,  as  well 
as  to  say  it.  She  thought  about  his  life,  about  his  death  on  the  cross,  and 
about  his  sweet  words  to  the  little  ones,  and  she  began  to  feel  it  too. 

The  next  evening  she  came  to  see  me  again ;  and,  putting  both  her 
hands  in  mine,  with  a  bright  happy  face,  she  said, — 

"  Oh !  please  sir,  I  love  Jesus  now ;  for  I  know  he  does  love  me  so !" 


CHRIST   AND    THE    LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


637 


Here  was  a  little  one  encouraged  to  come  to  Jesus  by  thinking  of  the 
interest  he  feels  in  children. 

Doesni  he  Love  to  Save? — A  mother  had  just  tucked  her  little  boy 


Who  can  tell  the  influence  that  children  exert  ? 


in  bed,  and  had  received  his  good-night  kisses.  She  lingered  awhile,  at 
his  bed-side,  to  speak  to  him  about  Jesus,  and  to  see  if  he  was  feeling  right 
toward  him.     He  was  a  good,  obedient  boy,  but  that  day  he  had  done 


638  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

something  that  grieved  his  mother.  He  had  expressed  his  sorrow  for  it, 
and  asked  his  mother's  forgiveness.  As  she  stooped  down  for  the  last 
kiss,  he  said — "  Is  it  all  settled,  mother?" 

"Yes,  my  child,"  she  said,  "it's  all  settled  with  mc  ;  but  have  you  set- 
tled it  all  with  Jesus?'  "Yes,  mother:  I've  'asked  him  to  forgive  me: 
and  I  believe  him  when  he  says  he  will;  for  doesn't  he  love  to  help  and 
save  children?"  "  He  does,  my  child,  he  does,"  said  his  mother,  as  she 
gazed  on  his  happy  little  face,  lighted  up  with  the  joy  of  that  gospel,  so 
often  hidden  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  but  revealed  to  babes. 

Here  we  see  how  this  little  fellow  was  encouraged  to  seek  Jesus  from 
the  assurance  that  he  feels  an  interest  in  children,  and  loves  to  help  and 
bless  them. 

Love  leads  to  Love. — A  little  boy  named  Charley,  stood  at  the  window 
with  his  mother  one  morning,  watching  the  robins  as  they  enjoyed  their 
morning  meal  of  cherries  from  the  tree  near  their  house.  "  Mother,"  said 
Charley,  "  How  the  birdies  all  love  father." 

"  They  do,"  said  his  mother,  "  but  what  do  you  suppose  is  the  reason 
that  the  birdies  love  your  father  ?" 

This  question  seemed  to  set  Charley  to  thinking.  He  did  not  answer 
at  first,  but  presently  he  said,  "  Why  mother  all  the  creatures  seem  to  love 
father.  My  dog  is  almost  as  glad  to  see  him  as  to  see  me.  Pussy,  you 
know,  always  comes  to  him,  and  seems  to  know  exactly  what  he  is  saying. 
Even  the  old  cow  follows  him  around  the  meadow,  and  the  other  day  I 
saw  her  licking  his  hand,  just  as  a  dog  would.  I  think  it  must  be  because 
father  loves  them.  You  know  he  will  often  get  up  and  give  pussy  some- 
thing to  eat;  and  he  pulls  carrots  for  the  cow,  and  pats  her;  and  some- 
how I  think  his  voice  never  sounds  so  sweet  as  when  he  is  talking  to  these 
dumb  creatures." 

"I  think  his  voice  is  very  pleasant  when  he  is  talking  to  his  little 
boy,"  said  his  mother. 

Charley  smiled,  and  said,  "That's  so,  mother.  Father  loves  me,  and 
I  love  him  dearly.  But  he  loves  the  birdies  too  I  am  sure.  He  whistles 
to  them  every  morning  when  they  are  eating  their  cherries,  and  they  don't 
seem  a  bit  afraid  of  him,  although  he  is  near  enough  to  catch  them. 
Mother  I  wish  everything  loved  me  as  they  do  father." 


CHRIST  AND    THE  LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


639 


"  Do  as  father  docs,  Charley,  and  they  -will.  Love  all  things  and  be 
kind  to  them.  Don't  kick  the  dog,  or  speak  roughly  to  him.  Don't  pull 
pussy's  tail,  nor  chase  the  hens,  nor  try  to  frighten  the  cow.  Never  throw 
stones  at  the  birds.  Never  hurt  nor  tease  anything.  Speak  gently,  and 
lovingly  to  them :  and  they  will  love  you,  and  everybody  that  knows  you 
will  love  you  too." 


The  Citv  of  Athens  rules  Greece. 


Now  Charley's  father,  in  acting  as  he  did,  was  trying  to  make  all  the 
dumb  creatures  about  him  know  that  he  was  their  friend ;  that  he  loved 
them,  and  had  nothing  but  kindness  in  his  heart  towards  them.  In  this 
way  he  encouraged  them  to  come   up  to  him,  and  not  be  afraid  of  him. 

And  this  is  just  the  way  in  which  Jesus  was  acting  when  he  did  and 
said  so  much  to  show  his  interest  in  children.  He  wants  them  all  to  un- 
derstand that  he  is  their  friend ;  that  he   loves  them,  and  wants  them  to 


640  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

come  to  him,  and  love  and  serve  him.     And  so  every  child  who  hears,  or 
reads  about  Jesus,  may  feel  encouraged  to  say: — 

"Once  in  his  arms  the  Saviour  took 

Young  children  just  Uke  me, 
And  blessed  them  with  his  voice  and  look 
As  kind  as  kind  could  be. 

And  though  to  heaven  the  Lord  hath  gone, 

And  seems  so  far  away, 
He  hath  a  smile  for  every  one 

That  doth  his  voice  obey. 

I'd  rather  be  the  least  of  them 

That  he  will  bless  and  own, 
Than  wear  a  royal  diadem, 

And  sit  upon  a  throne." 

And  so  we  may  well  say  that  in  what  Jesus  did  and  said  about  the 
children  there  is  great  encouragement. 

And  then  there  are — Great  Lessons — too,  in  this  part  of  the  life  oj 
Christ. 

There  are  two  lessons  tautjht  us  here.  One  is  about  the  work  we  are 
to  do  for  yesus  here  on  earth.  When  Jesus  said  to  Peter,  "  Lovest  thou 
me?  Feed  my  lambs,"  he  meant  to  teach  him,  and  you,  and  me,  and  all 
his  people  everywhere  the  best  way  in  which  we  can  show  our  love  to 
him.  The  lambs  of  Christ  here  spoken  of,  mean  little  children,  wherever 
they  are  found.  And  to  feed  these  lambs  is  to  teach  them  about  Jesus. 
When  we  are  trying  to  bring  the  young  to  Jesus  and  teaching  them  to 
love  and  serve  him,  then  w^e  are  doing  the  work  that  is  most  pleasing  to 
him  : — the  work  that  he  most  loves  to  have  his  people  do.  It  was  think- 
ing about  this  that  first  led  me  to  begin  the  work  of  preaching  regularly 
to  the  young,  more  than  thirty  years  ago.  And  this  is  the  lesson  that 
Jesus  would  have  all  his  people  learn  when  he  says  to  each  of  them : — 
"  Lovest  thou  me  ?  Feed  my  lambs." 

The  Angel  in  the  Stone. — Many  years  ago  there  was  a  celebrated  ar- 
tist who  lived  in  Italy,  whose  name  was  Michael  Angelo.     He  w-as  a  great 


CHRIST  AND    THE  LITTLE    CHILDREN. 


641 


painter,  and  a  great  sculptor,  or  a  worker  in  marble.  He  loved  to  see 
beautiful  figures  chiseled  out  of  marble,  and  he  had  great  power  and  skill 
in  chiseling  out  such  figures.  One  day,  as  he  was  walking  with  some 
friends  through  the  city  of  Florence,  he  saw  a  block  of  marble  lying  ne- 
glected in  a  yard,  half  covered  with  dust  and  rubbish.  He  stopped  to 
examine  that  block  of  marble.  That  day  happened  to  be  a  great  holiday 
in  Florence,  and  the  artist  had  his  best  suit  of  clothes  on ;  but  not  caring 
for  this  he  threw  off  his  coat,  and  went  to  work  to  clear  away  the  rubbish 
from  that  marble.  His  friends  were  surprised.  They  said  to  him : — 
"Come  on,  let's  go;  what's  the  use  of  wasting  your  time  on  that  good-for 
nothing  lump  of  stone  ?" 

"  O,  there's  an  angel  in  this  stone," 
said  he,  "  and  I   must  get  it  out." 

He  bought  that  block ;  had  it  re- 
moved to  his  studio,  and  then  went  to 
work  with  his  mallet  and  his  chisel,  and 
never  rested  till  out  of  that  rough,  un- 
shapen  mass  of  stone  he  made  a  beauti- 
ful marble  angel. 

Now,  every  child  born  into  our  world 
is  like  such  a  block  of  marble.  The  only 
difference  is  that  children  are  living  stones 
— marble  that  will  last  forever.  And 
when  we  bring  our  children  to  Jesus,  and 
by  his  help  teach  them  to  love  and  serve 
him,  we  are  doing  for  them  just  what 
Michael  Angelo  was  doing  for  his  block 
of  marble — we  are  getting  the  angels  out  of  the  stones. 
Jesus  loves  to  have  us  do. 

How  fo  get  the  Aiigch  out — A  Christian  mother,  whose  children  had 
all  been  early  taught  to  love  and  serve  Jesus,  was  asked  the  secret  of  her 
success  in  bringing  up  her  children.  This  was  her  answer : — "  While  my 
children  were  infants  on  my  lap,  as  I  washed  them  day  by  day,  I  raised 
my  heart  to  God  that  he  would  wash  them  in  that  blood  which  cleanseth 
from  all  sin ;  as  I  clothed  them  in  the  morning,  I  asked  my  heavenly  Fa- 


Michael  Angelo. 


And  this  is  what 


642  THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

ther  to  clothe  them  with  the  robe  of  Christ's  righteousness ;  as  I  provided 
them  food  I  prayed  that  God  would  feed  their  souls  with  the  bread  of 
heaven,  and  give  them  to  drink  of  the  water  of  life.  When  I  prepared 
them  for  the  house  of  God  I  pleaded  that  their  bodies  might  be  made  fit 
temples  for  the  Holy  Ghost  to  dwell  in.  When  they  left  me  daily  for  the 
week-day  school,  I  followed  their  youthful  footsteps  with  the  prayer  that 
their  path  through  life  might  be  like  that  of  the  just,  which  shineth  more 
and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.  And  night  after  night,  as  I  committed 
them  to  rest,  the  silent  breathing  of  my  soul  has  been,  that  their  heavenly 
Father  would  take  them  under  his  tender  care  and  fold  them  in  his  loving, 
everlasting  arms." 

Let  Christian  mothers  follow  this  example  and  they  will  not  fail  to 
bring  the  angel  out  from  every  block  of  living  marble  that  God  has  given 
them. 

TJie  Best  Time  for  doing  This. — A  faithful  minister  of  Christ  had  a 
dear  only  daughter.  She  had  been  a  thoughtful  praying  child.  When 
only  twelve  years  old  she  had  joined  her  father's  church.  She  now  lay  on 
her  dying  bed.  'As  I  sat  by  her  bed-side,"  says  her  father,  "among  the 
things  she  said,  which  I  shall  never  forget  were  these  : — "  Father  you  know 
I  joined  the  church  when  I  was  young — very  young.  Some  of  our  friends 
thought  that  I  was  too  young.  But,  oh !  how  I  wish  I  could  tell  every- 
body what  a  comfort  it  is  to  me  now  to  think  of  it."  Then  reaching  out 
her  hand — the  fingers  were  already  cold — and  grasping  mine,  she  said 
with  great  earnestness  : — "  Father,  you  are  at  work  for  the  young.  Do  all 
you  can  for  them  while  they  are  young.  It's  the  best  time — the  best  time. 
Oh !  I  see  it  now  as  I  never  did  before.  It  is  the  best  time — while  they 
are  young — the  younger  the  better.  Do  all  you  can  for  them  while  they 
are  very  young."     And  then  she  fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 

This  is  the  lesson  about  the  work  we  are  to  do  for  him  on  earth,  that 
Jesus  taught  in  what  he  said  concerning  the  children. 

But  when  we  think  of  those  sweet  words  of  Jesus — "Of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,"  we  are  taught  a  lesson  about  the  conipajiy  ibe  shall 
meet  there.  We  learn  from  what  our  blessed  Lord  says  on  tliis  subject, 
that  he  saves  all  the  little  ones  who  die  before  they  are  accountable  for 
their  actions.     And  we  know  that  of  all  the  persons  born  into  our  world 


CHRIST   AND    THE    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  643 

more  than  half  of  them  die  before  they  reach  this  age.  And  this  makes  it 
very  certain  that  more  than  half  the  company  of  heaven  will  be  made  up 
of  little  children.  This  is  a  very  sweet  thought  to  those  who  have  lost 
little  ones ;  and  to  those  who  love  them. 

And  some  people  think  that  when  young  children  die  and  go  to  hea- 
ven, they  will  not  grow  up  to  be  men  and  women,  but  will  always  remain 
children.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Bickersteth,  of  England,  in  speaking  of  a  father 
meeting  his  little  ones  in  heaven,  who  died  years  before  he  did,  represents 
him  as  meeting  them  there,  just  of  the  same  age  and  size  that  they  were 
when  they  died.  And  then  he  expresses  his  own  thought  on  this  subject 
in  a  single  line: — 

"  A  babe  in  glory,  is  a  babe  forever." 

But  God  has  not  said  anything  on  this  subject  in  the  Bible.  And 
when  he  himself  has  not  spoken  on  such  a  point  as  this,  it  is  impossible 
for  us  to  say  certainly  which  way  it  will  be.  But  when  we  get  to  heaven 
and  find  just  how  it  is,  we  shall  all  agree  that  God's  way  is  the  best 
way. 

And  then  Jesus  shows  us  plainly  i^Iiat  onr  character'  iiinst  be  if  we 
hope  to  go  to  heaven,  and  join  the  happy  company  there. 

These  are  the  words  he  spake  on  this  subject;  "Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child,  he 
shall  not  enter  therein."  Mark  x :  15.  Jesus  refers  here  to  some  of  the 
best  things  that  we  find  marking  the  character  of  a  good  child.  Such  a 
child  is  gentle,  and  loving,  and  kind  ;  and  this  must  be  our  character,  if  we 
hope  to  enter  heaven.  Such  a  child  is  willing  to  be  taught: — believes  all 
that  his  parent  or  teacher  tells  him  ;  and  does  everything  that  he  is  told 
to  do ;  and  such  must  our  character  be  if  we  hope  to  enter  heaven. 

And  so  when  we  come  to  study  out  this  part  of  our  Saviours  life,  and 
think  of  all  that  he  did  and  said  to  show  his  interest  in  children,  we  see 
these  four  great  things  in  it :  viz.,  great  love ;  great  wisdom  ;  great  encour- 
agement; and  great  lessons. 

I  know  not  how  to  express  in  a  better  way,  the  feelings  which  should 
be  in  the  heart  of  every  one,  young  or  old,  on  thinking  of  this  great  sub- 
ject, than  in  the  words  of  one  who  has  thus  sweetly  written : 


644 


THE   TRANSFIGURATION. 


HIS  was  one  of  the  most  surprising  scenes 
in  the  hfe  of  our  blessed  Lord.  It  forms 
a  great  contrast  to  the  other  events  men- 
tioned in  his  history.  He  "came  to  visit 
us  in  great  humility."  When  we  read 
how  he  was  born  in  a  stable,  and  cradled 
in  a  manger;  how  he  had  "  not  where  to 
lay  his  head ;"  when  we  read  of  the  lowli- 
ness, and  poverty,  and  suffering  that 
marked  his  course,  day  by  day,  we  come 
naturally  to  think  of  him  as  "  the  man  of 
sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief"  And 
though,  when  we  remember  how  he  healed 
the  sick,  and  cast  out  devils,  and  raised 
the  dead  to  life  again ;  how  he  walked 
upon  the  waters,  and  controlled  the 
stormy  winds  and  waves  with  his  simple 
word,  he  seems  wonderful  in  his  power 
and  majesty;  yet  there  is  nothing,  in  all 
his  earthly  life,  that  leads  us  to  think  so 
highly  of  him,  as  this  scene  of  the  Trans- 
figuration, of  which  we  are  now  to  speak. 

645 


646  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

The  account  of  this  event  is  given  us  by  three  of  the  Evangelists. 
We  find  it  described  by  St.  Math,  xvii :  1-13.  St.  Mark  ix :  2-13.  St. 
Luke  ix :    28-29. 

A  short  time  before  this  took  place,  Jesus  had  told  his  disciples  how 
he  was  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  to  suffer  many  things,  to  be  put  to  death, 
be  buried,  and  be  raised  again  on  the  third  day.  St.  Matth.  xvi :  21.  He 
also  told  them  of  the  self-denial,  which  all  who  became  his  disciples,  would 
be  required  to  exercise.  This  was  very  different  from  what  they  were 
expecting,  and  must  have  been  very  discouraging  to  them.  They  did  not 
yet  understand  that  their  Master  had  come  into  the  world  to  suffer  and  to 
die.  Instead  of  this,  their  minds  were  filled  with  the  idea  that  the  object 
of  his  coming  was  to  establish  an  earthly  kingdom,  and  to  reign  in  glory. 
And,  for  themselves,  they  were  expecting  that  they  would  share  his  glory, 
and  reign  as  princes  with  him.  And  so  they  must  have  been  greatly 
troubled  by  his  words.  To  encourage  and  comfort  them,  therefore,  he 
told  them  that,  before  they  died,  some  of  them  should  "see  the  Son  of 
Man  coming  in  his  kingdom." 

And  then,  some  days  after  this,  he  took  three  of  his  disciples,  the 
favored  John  and  James  and  Peter,  and  went  up  with  them  "into  a 
mountain,  apart  by  themselves,  and  was  transfigured  before  them."  We 
are  not  told  what  mountain  it  was,  that  was  thus  honored.  Mount  Tabor, 
near  Nazareth,  on  the  borders  of  the  Plain  of  Esdraelon,  has  long  been 
regarded  as  the  favored  spot.  But,  in  our  day,  many  persons  think  that 
it  was  not  on  the  top  of  Tabor,  but  on  one  of  the  summits  of  Mount 
Hermon,  where  this  wonderful  event  took  place.  One  of  the  principal 
objections  to  supposing  that  Tabor  was  the  place,  is,  that  in  those  days 
there  was  a  large  fortress  on  the  top  of  this  mountain,  and  this,  they 
think,  would  interfere  with  the  privacy  that  would  be  desired  on  such  an 
occasion.  But,  for  mvself,  I  still  incline  to  think  that  Tabor  was  the 
mountain  chosen.  I  went  to  the  top  of  this  mountain,  when  in  Palestine. 
And  though  there  is  a  large  Convent  there  now,  yet  the  summit  of  Tabor 
covers  a  wide  space  of  ground.  And  outside  of  the  walls  of  the  Convent, 
and  even  out  of  sight  of  its  walls,  I  saw  a  number  of  retired,  shady  places, 
that  would  be  particularly  suitable  for  such  a  scene  as  this. 

Bui,  it  is  impossible  to  decide  positively  which  was  the   Mount  of 


THE    TRANSFIGURATION. 


647 


The  Transfiguration. 


648  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Transfiguration.  And  it  is  not  a  matter  of  much  consequence.  Those 
who  think  it  was  Hcrmon  are  at  liberty  to  think  so;  and  those  who 
think  it  was  Tabor,  have  a  right  to  their  opinion,  for  none  can  prove  that 
they  are  mistaken  in  thinking  so. 

And  when  we  come  to  consider  this  great  event,  in  the  life  of  our 
Saviour,  there  are  huo  things  to  speak  of  in  connection  with  it;  these 
are  the  wonders  we  see  in  it;  and  the  lessons  we  may  learn  from  it.  Or, 
to  express  it  more  briefly — The  Transfiguration — its  wonders,  and  its 
lessons. 

There  are  three  wonders  to  be  spoken  of,  and  three  lessons  to  be 
learned  from  this  subject. 

The  first  wonder  is — The  Wonderful  Change — that  took  place  in 
the  appearance  of  our  Lord  on  this  occasion. 

Jesus  went  up  the  mountain  with  his  disciples.  It  was  probably  at 
the  close  of  one  of  his  busy  days  that  he  did  this.  It  would  seem  from 
St.  Luke's  account, — chap,  ix:  32 — that  Peter  and  his  companions  were 
weary  with  the  day's  work,  and  soon  fell  asleep.  But,  while  they  were 
sleeping,  Jesus  was  praying.  And  it  was  while  he  was  engaged  in  prayer, 
that  the  Transfiguration  took  place.  St.  Luke  tells  us  it  was — "  as  he 
prayed y 

Let  us  notice  now,  what  the  different  Evangelists  tell  us  about  this 
change.  St.  Matthew  says — "  He  was  transfigured  before  them :  and  his 
face  did  shine  as  the  sun,  and  his  raiment  was  white  as  the  light."  St. 
Mark  says,  "  His  raiment  became  exceeding  white  as  snow,  so  as  no 
fuller  " — one  who  cleans,  or  whitens  cloth — "  on  earth  can  white  them." 
St.  Luke  says — "  As  he  prayed,  the  fashion  of  his  countenance  was 
altered,  and  his  raiment  was  white  and  glistering." 

These  are  the  different  accounts  we  have  of  this  surprising  scene. 
If  the  disciples  had  been  awake,  when  this  marvellous  change  began  to 
take  place,  we  cannot  for  a  moment  suppose  that  they  would  have  gone 
to  sleep,  while  the  heavens  must  have  seemed  to  be  opening  above  them, 
and  this  blaze  of  glory  was  shining  around  them.  They  were,  no  doubt, 
asleep  when  the  transfiguration  began.  And,  as  we  know,  that  the  taking 
of  an  ordinary  light,  into  the  room  where  persons  are  asleep,  will  often 
awaken  them ;    it  is  not  surprising  that  the  disciples  should  have  been 


THE    TR  A  NSFI G  UR  A  TI O  JV. 


649 


aroused  from  their  slumber  by  the  flood  of  light  and  glory  that  was 
beaming  round  their  Master  then.  How  surprised  they  must  have  been 
when  they  opened  their  eyes  on  that  scene !  They  would  never  forget 
it,  as  long  as  they  lived.  It  was  more  than  half  a  century  after  this  when 
St.  John  wrote  his  gospel ;  and  it  was,  no  doubt,  to  this  scene  that  he 
referred  when  he  said,  in  speaking  of  Jesus  ; — "  7ac  beJield  his  glory,  tJie 
glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father!'  St.  John  i:  14.  And,  not 
long  before  his  death,  St.  Peter  thus  refers  to  it: — "We  were  eye-wit- 
nesses of  his  majesty.     For  he  received  from  God  the  Father,  honor  and 


m 


Mount  Tabor  and  the  Village  of  Nain. 


glory,  when  there  came  such  a  voice  from   the  excellent  glory,  saying, 
This  is  my  beloved  Son  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased."  2  Pet.  i :  16,  17. 

One  object  for  which  this  wonderful  transfiguration  of  our  Lord  took 
place,  was  no  doubt,  to  give  to  the  disciples  then,  and  to  the  followers 
of  Jesus,  in  all  coming  time,  an  idea  of  what  his  glory  now  is  in  heaven, 
anci  of  what  it  will  be  when  he  shall  come  again  in  his  kingdom.  He 
had  told  his  disciples  about  his  sufferings  and  death,  and  the  shame  and 
dishonor  connected  with  them ;  and  here,  as  if  to  counterbalance  that,  he 
wished  to  give  them  a  glimpse  of  the  glory  that  is  to  shine  around  him 
forever.     How  wonderful  it  must  have  seemed  to  the  astonished  disci- 


6  so 


THE     LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


pies!  When  they  had  last  looked  on  their  Master,  before  going  to  sleep, 
they  had  seen  him  as  "the  man  of  sorrows,"  in  his  plain,  every  day  dress, 
such  as  they  themselves  wore:  but,  when  they  looked  on  him  again,  as 
they  awoke  from  their  sleep,  they  saw  his  face  shining  as  the  sun,  and  his 
raiment  dazzling  in  its  snowy  whiteness. 

To  what  may  we  compare  this  wonderful  change?  Suppose  you 
have  before  you  the  bulbous  root  of  the  lily  plant.  You  look  at  it  care- 
fully, but  there  is  nothing  attractive  about  it.  How  rough  and  unsightly 
it  appears!     You  close  your  eyes  upon  it  for  a  brief  space.     You  open 

them  again.  But  what  a  change  has  taken 
place!  That  plain  homely-looking  bulb 
has  disappeared,  and  in  its  place  there 
stands  before  you  the  lily  plant.  It  has 
reached  its  mature  growth.  Its  flower  is 
fully  developed,  and  blooming  in  all  its 
matchless  beauty!  What  a  marvelous 
change  that  would  be!  And  yet  it  would 
be  but  a  feeble  illustration  of  the  more 
wonderful  change  that  took  place  in  our 
Saviour  at  his  transfiguration. 

Here  is  another  illustration.  Suppose 
we  are  looking  at  the  western  sky,  towards 
the  close  of  day.  Great  masses  of  dark 
clouds  are  covering  all  that  part  of  the 
heavens.  They  are  but  common  clouds. 
There  is  nothing  attractive,  or  interesting  about  them.  We  do  not  care  to 
take  a  second  look  at  them.  We  turn  from  them  for  a  little  while,  and 
then  look  at  them  again.  In  the  meantime,  the  setting  sun  has  thrown 
his  glorious  beams  upon  them.  How  changed  they  now  appear!  All 
that  was  common-place  and  unattractive  about  them,  is  gone.  How  they 
glow  and  sparkle !  Gold,  and  purple,  and  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow 
are  blending,  how  beautifully  there !  Are  these  the  same  dull  clouds  that 
we  looked  upon  a  few  moments  before  ?  Yes ;  but  they  have  been  trans- 
figured. A  wonderful  change  has  come  over  them.  And  here  we  have 
an  illustration  of  our  Lord's  transfiguration.     The  first  wonder,  about  this 


The  White  Lily. 


THE    TR A NSFI G UR AT  10 N . 


651 


incident  in  his  life  is  the  won- 
derful change  which  took  place 
in  his  appearance  then. 

The  second  ivoudcr  about 
the  tyansfigitration  is — the  won- 
derful COMPANY  —  tJiat  ap- 
peared with  oiir  Saviour  then. 

At  the  close  of  his  temp- 
tation in  the  wilderness,  Jesus 
had  some  wonderful  company 
too,  but  it  was  different  from 
what  he  had  now.  Then,  we 
are  told  that  "  angels  came,  a)id 
ministered  unto  him."  And  in 
the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  when 
he  was  sinking  to  the  earth,  over- 
come by  the  terrible  agony 
through  which  he  was  passing, 
he  had  more  company  of  the 
same  kind ;  for  we  read  that — 
''there  appeared  unto  him  an 
angel  front  heaven  strengthening 
Jiiniy  St.  Luke  xxii :  43.  But 
it  was  not  the  company  of  angels 
that  waited  on  him  at  the  time 
of  his  TransfiP'uration.  No:  but 
we  read  that,  "  there  appeared 
unto  him  Moses,  and  Elias,"  or 
Elijah.  And  if  we  ask  why  did 
not  the  angels  come  to  him  now, 
as  they  did  on  other  occasions  ? 
Why  did  these  distinguished 
persons,  of  the  Old  Testament 
history,  come  from  heaven  to  visit  him  in  place  of  the  angels  ? 
enough  to  answer  these  questions. 


It  is  easy 


This  transfiguration  of  Christ  took 


652  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

place,  as  he  himself  tells  us,  in  order  to  give  his  disciples  a  view  of 
the  glory  that  will  attend  him  when  he  shall  come  in  his  kingdom. 
When  he  shall  appear,  on -that  occasion,  all  his  people  will  come  with 
him.  Those  who  shall  have  died  before  he  comes  will  be  raised  from 
the  dead,  and  come  with  him,  in  their  glorious  resurrection  bodies. 
And  those  who  shall  be  living  when  he  comes  will,  as  St.  Paul  tells 
us, — ''be  changed  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye" — i  Cor. 
XV :  52,  53 — and  have  beautiful,  glorified  bodies,  like  the  bodies  of 
those  who  have  been  raised  from  the  dead.  And  both  these  classes,  of 
Christ's  people,  were  represented  by  the  distinguished  persons  who  formed 
the  company,  that  appeared  with  Jesus  at  the  Transfiguration.  Moses 
had  been  in  heaven  nearly  fifteen  hundred  years,  when  this  scene  took 
place.  He  had  died,  as  other  men  do,  and  had  been  buried.  It  is  sup- 
posed by  many  wise  and  good  men,  that  his  body  had  been  raised  from 
the  dead,  that  he  might  appear  in  it,  on  this  occasion.  And  thus  Moses 
represented  all  the  dead  in  Christ,  who  w'ill  be  raised  to  life  again  at  his 
coming.  Elijah  had  been  in  heaven  for  almost  a  thousand  years.  He 
had  never  died:  and  never  lain  in  the  grave.  He  was  translated.  This 
means  that  he  was  taken  up  to  heaven  without  dying.  But  St.  Paul  tells 
us  that  bodies  of  flesh  and  blood,  like  ours,  cannot  enter  heaven,  i  Cor. 
XV :  50.  They  must  be  changed,  and  made  fit  for  that  blessed  place. 
And  so,  we  know,  that  as  Elijah  went  up  to  heaven,  in  his  chariot  of  fire, 
the  same  wonderful  change  must  have  passed  over  his  body,  which  we 
have  seen  will  take  place  with  those  of  Christ's  people,  who  shall  be  living 
on  the  earth  when  he  comes  again. 

Jesus  was  transfigured  that  we  might  know  how  he  himself  will 
appear  when  he  comes  in  his  kingdom.  And  Moses  and  Elias  "ap- 
peared with  him  in  glory,"  to  show  us  how  the  people  of  Christ  will 
appear  when  they  enter  with  him  into  his  kingdom.  And  this  was  a 
good  reason  why  these  very  persons,  and  not  the  angels,  should  have 
formed  the  company  that  came  to  visit  our  Saviour  on  the  Mount  of 
Transfiguration.  It  was  wonderful  company  indeed,  that  waited  on  Jesus 
then.  But,  it  was  a  wonderful  occasion.  None  like  it  had  ever  oc- 
curred before;  none  like  it  has  ever  occurred  since;  and  none  like  it 
will  ever  occur  again,  till  Jesus  shall  come  in  the  glory  of  his  heavenly 


653 


654  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

kingdom.     The  second  wonder  of  the  Transfiguration  was  the  wonderful 
company. 

The  third  'wonder  connected  with  this  great  event  7vas — the  "wonder- 
ful CONVERSATION — that  took  plttcc  between  yesiis  and  his  visitors. 

All  the  three  Evangelists,  who  tell  of  the  Transfiguration,  speak  of 
this  conversation.  St.  Matthew  and  St.  Mark  merely  state  the  fact  that 
Moses  and  Elias  "were  talking  with  Jesus;"  but  they  do  not  tell  us  the 
subject  of  the  conversation,  or  what  it  was  about  which  they  talked.  But 
St.  Luke  supplies  what  they  leave  out.  He  says,  ''they  spake  of  his  de- 
cease, which  he  should  accoinplisii  at  yernsa/ejn."  This  means  that  they 
talked  about  the  death  upon  the  cross  which  he  was  to  suffer.  And  when 
we  remember  that  these  great  and  good  men  had  just  come  down  from 
heaven,  where  God,  the  loving  Father  of  Jesus  dwells,  and  where  all  the 
holy  angels  are ;  and  that  this  was  the  only  time  when  they  were  to  be 
present  wdth  Jesus,  and  have  an  opportunity  of  talking  w-ith  him,  during 
all  his  life  on  earth,  we  may  wonder  why  they  did  not  choose  some  more 
pleasant  subject  of  conversation.  And  yet  they  did  not  make  a  mistake. 
God  the  Father  had  sent  them  from  heaven  to  meet  his  beloved  Son  on 
this  occasion.  And,  no  doubt,  he  had  told  them  what  subject  they  were 
to  talk  about,  and  what  they  w-ere  to  say  to  Jesus,  on  that  subject.  And 
then  they  knew  very  well  how  Jesus  felt  about  this  matter.  And  painful 
as  the  death  upon  the  cross  would  be,  they  knew  it  was  the  nearest  of 
all  things  to  the  heart  of  Jesus.  It  was  the  will  of  his  Father,  that  he 
shoiild  die  on  the  cross,  and  it  was  the  delight  of  his  heart — the  very  joy 
of  his  soul  to  do  his  Father's  will.  And  here  we  learn  the  unspeakable 
importance  of  the  death  of  Christ.  The  apostle  Paul  was  showing  his 
sense  of  its  importance  when  he  said,  "God  forbid  that  I  should  glory, 
save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus."  Gal.  vi :  14.  He  puts  the  word 
''cross  of  Christ,"  for  the  death  of  Christ,  but  they  mean  the  same  thing. 

Some  one  has  compared  the  cross  of  Christ  to  a  key  of  gold,  that 
opens  the  gate  of  heaven  to  us,  if  we  believe  in  Jesus;  but  if  we  refuse  to 
hear,  and  obey  the  words  of  Jesus,  it  becomes  a  key  of  iron,  and  opens  the 
gate  of  destruction  before  us. 

The  Power  of  the  Cross.  A  heathen  ruler  had  heard  the  story  of 
the  cross,  and  desired  to  know  its  power.     When  he  was  sick,  and  near 


THE    TRANS FI G  LIRA  TI ON. 


655 


his  end,  he  told  his  servants  to  make  him  a  large  wooden  cross,  and  lay- 
it  down  in  his  chamber.  When  this  was  done,  he  said — "  Take  me  now 
and  lay  me  on  the  cross,  and  let  me  die  there."  As  he  lay  there  dying 
he  looked  in  faith  to  the  blood  of  Christ,  that  was  shed  upon  the  cross, 
and  said — "//  /iffs  me 
lip:  it  lifts  me.  yesus 
saves  met"  and  thus  he 
died.  It  was  not  that 
wooden  cross  that  saved 
him ;  but  the  death  of 
Christ,  on  the  cross  to 
which  he  was  nailed — the 
death  of  which  Moses  and 
Elias  talked  with  him, 
that  saved  this  heathen 
man.  They  knew  what 
a  blessing  his  death  would 
be  to  the  world,  and  this 
was  why  they  talked  about 
this  death.  Here  is  one  of 
Bonar's  beautiful  hymns 
which  speaks  sweetly  of 
the  blessedness,  and  com- 
fort, to  be  found  in  the 
cross  of  Christ. 


A  Sunset  in  the  East. 


'Oppressed  with  noonday's  scorching  heat, 

To  this  dear  cross  I  flee ; 

And  in   its  shelter  take   my  seat; 

No  shade  hke  this  to  me! 


Beneath  this  cross  clear  waters  burst; 

A  fountain  sparkling  free ; 
And  here  I  quench  my  desert  thirst, 

No  spring  like  this  to  me. 


656  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

A  stranger  here,  I  pitch  my  tent 

Beneath   this  spreading  tree; 
Here  shall   my  pilgrim   life  be  spent, 

No  Iwmc  like  this  to  me! 

For  burdened  ones  a  resting  place 

Beside  this  cross  I  see; 
Here,  I  cast  off  my  weariness ; 

No  rest  like  this  for  me ! " 

Moses  and  Elias  understood  how  the  blessing  of  the  world  was  to 
flow  out  from  that  death  upon  the  cross  which  Jesus  was  to  suffer ;  and  so, 
we  need  not  wonder,  that  during  the  short  visit  which  they  made  to  Jesus, 
amidst  the  glory  of  his  Transfiguration,  the  subject,  above  all  others,  about 
which  they  desired  to  talk  with  him, — was  his  death  upon  the  cross, — "  his 
decease,  which  he  should  accomplish  at  Jerusalem." 

These  are  the  three  great  wonders  of  the  Transfiguration — the  won- 
derful change — the  wonderful  company — and  the  wonderful  conversation. 

And  this  brings  us  to  the  second  part  of  our  subject,  which  \s—the 
three  lessons  taught  by  the  transfiguration. 

The  first  of  these  is — The  Lesson  of  Hope. 

One  thing,  for  which  the  Transfiguration  took  place,  was  to  show  us 
what  we  may  hope  to  be  hereafter,  if  we  are  the  servants  of  Christ.  We 
are  told  how  Jesus  appeared  on  this  occasion.  His  glory  is  described. 
The  brightness  and  glory  that  shone  around  him,  exceeded  that  of  the 
noon-day  sun.  But  there  is  no  particular  description  given  of  Moses  and 
Elias.  We  are  not  told  how  they  looked.  It  is  only  said  of  them  that — 
"  they  appeared  in  ^^z^'."  St.  Luke  ix:  31.  I  suppose  the  meaning  of 
this  is  that  they  shared  in  the  glory  which  Jesus  himself  had,  when  he  was 
transfigured.  Their  raiment  was  as  white  as  his ;  and  the  same  brightness, 
and  beauty,  beamed  forth  from  their  faces,  which  made  his  so  glorious. 
They  shared  their  Master's  glory.  And,  if  we  are  loving,  and  serving 
Jesus,  this  is  what  we  may  hope  to  share  with  him  hereafter.  This  is  what 
we  are  taught  to  pray  for  in  the  beautiful  Collect  for  the  sixth  Sunday  after 
the  Epiphany.  These  are  the  words  of  that  prayer :  "  O  God,  whose  blessed 
Son  was  manifested  that  he  might  make  us  the  sons  of  God,  and  heirs  of 
eternal   life;  Grant  us,  we  beseech  thee,  that  having  this  hope,  we  may 


THE   TRANSFIGURATION.  657 


purify  ourselves,  even  as  he  is  pure ;  that  when  he  shall  appear  again,  with 
power  and  great  glory,  we  inay  be  made  like  unto  him  in  his  eternal  and 
glorious  kingdom;  where,  with  thee,  O  Father,  and  thee,  O  Holy  Ghost, 
he  liveth  and  reigneth,  ever  One  God,  world  without  end.     Amen." 

And  it  is  right  to  offer  such  a  prayer  as  this,  because  the  Bible  teaches 
us  to  hope  for  this  great  glory.  How  well  a  hope  like  this  may  be  called 
" a  hope  that  maketh  not  ashamed"  Rom.  v :  5 ;  ''a  good  hope  through 
grace"  2  Thess.  ii :  16;  "that  blessed  hope"  Tit.  ii :  13;  "«  lively  hope"  i 
Pet.  i:  3.  And  how  well  it  may  be  spoken  of  as  "«  helmet" — to  cover 
the  head  in  the  day  of  battle ;  and  as  "  an  anchor  "  to  keep  the  soul  calm 
and  steadfast  when  the  storms  of  life  are  bursting  upon  it  1  Moses  and 
Elias  appeared  with  Jesus  at  his  Transfiguration,  and  shared  his  glory  on 
purpose  to  teach  us  this  lesson  of  hope,  and  to  show  us  what  we  shall  be 
hereafter.  We  shall  be  as  glorious  as  Jesus  was  on  the  Mount  of  Trans- 
figuration !  This  seems  something  too  great,  and  too  good  to  be  true. 
But  no  matter  how  great,  or  how  good  it  is — //  is  true.  Jesus  taught  this 
lesson  of  hope,  when  he  said — speaking  of  the  time  when  he  shall  come 
in  his  kingdom  ;  "  Theji  shall  the  righteous  shine  forth  as  the  sun  in  the 
kingdom  of  their  Father"  St.  Math,  xiii:  43.  He  taught  us  the  same 
lesson,  in  his  prayer  to  his  Father,  when  he  said,  speaking  of  all  his  people: 
'^And  the  glory  which  thou  gavest  me,  I  have  given  them"  St.  John  xvii : 
21.  And  the  apostle  John  taught  us  the  same  lesson,  when  he  said, — 
"  We  know,  that  when  he  shall  appear  we  shall  be  like  him"  i  John  iii :  2. 
These  sweet  passages  make  this  lesson  of  hope  very  sure.  And  this  is  just 
the  way  in  which  we  are  made  sure  about  other  things  we  have  not  seen. 

How  we  know  there  is  a  Heaven. — A  Sunday-school  teacher  was 
talking  to  one  of  her  scholars  about  heaven,  and  the  glory  we  shall  have, 
when  we  reach  that  blessed  place.  He  was  a  bright  boy,  about  nine  or 
ten  years  old,  named  Charlie.  After  listening  to  her  for  awhile,  he  said: 
"  But  you  have  never  been  there.  Miss  D.,  and  how  do  you  know  there 
really  is  any  such  place  ?" 

"  Charlie,"  said  the  teacher,  "  you  have  never  been  to  London ;  how 
do  you  know  there  is  such  a  city?" 

"  O,  I  know  that  very  well,"  said  Charlie,  "  because  my  father  is  there ; 
and  he  has  sent  me  a  letter,  telling  me  all  about  it." 


658  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


"And  God,  my  Father,  is  in  the  heavenly  city,"  said  Miss  D.,  "and 
he  has  sent  me  a  letter,  telling  me  about  the  glory  of  heaven,  and  about 
the  way  to  get  there.     The  Bible  is  God's  letter." 

"Yes,  I  see,"  said  Charlie,  after  thinking  awhile,  "there  must  be  a 
heaven,  if  you  have  got  such  a  nice  long  letter  from  there." 

The  lesson  of  hope  is  the  first  lesson  taught  us  by  the  Transfigura- 
tion. 

The  next  lesson  taught  its  here  w^The  Lesson  of  Instruction. 

The  great  event  of  the  Transfiguration  took  place  in  our  Saviour's 
life,  for  this  reason,  among  others,  that  we  might  learn  from  it  how  we  are 
to  think  of  Christ.  While  the  disciples  were  gazing  on  the  glor)''  of  that 
scene,  and  on  the  distinguished  visitors  who  were  there,  there  came  a 
cloud,  and  overshadowed  them.  This  cloud,  we  may  suppose,  was  like  a 
curtain,  round  Moses  and  Elias,  hiding  them  from  the  view  of  the  disci- 
ples. And,  as  Jesus  in  his  glory  was  left  alone,  for  them  to  gaze  upon, 
there  came  a  voice  from  the  overshadowing  cloud,  saying — "  This  is  my 
beloved  Sou  ;  in  whom  I  ain  well  pleased."  This  was  the  voice  of  God, 
the  Father.  It  spoke  out  on  this  occasion  to  teach  the  disciples  then,  and 
you  and  me  now,  and  all  God's  people  in  every  age,  what  to  think  about 
Christ.  God,  the  Father,  tells  us  here  what  he  thinks  about  him  ;  and  we 
must  learn  to  think  of  him  in  the  same  way.  His  will,  his  command  is 
that  "  all  men  should  honor  the  Son,  even  as  they  honor  the  Pather,"  St. 
John  v:  3.  Moses  and  Elias  were  great  men  in  their  day.  They  appeared 
on  this  occasion,  to  add  to  the  honor  of  Christ.  And  then  they  disappeared, 
as  if  to  show  that  they  were  nothing  in  comparison  with  him.  He  is  the 
greatest  and  the  best  of  all  .beings.  He  must  be  first.  Prophets  and 
priests,  and  kings,  and  angels  even,  are  as  nothing  to  him.  We  must  love 
him — and  honor  him  above  all  others.  The  words  of  the  hymn  we  so 
often  sing,  show  us  how  God  would  have  us  think,  and  feel  towards 
him: 


"  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name, 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall ; 
Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  crown  him   Lord  of  all. 


THE    TRANSFIGURATION.  059 

Let  every  kindred,  every  tribe, 

On  this  terrestrial  ball, 
To  him  all  majesty  ascribe, 

And  crown  him  Lord  of  all." 

How  Christ  sJioiild  be  Honored. — There  is  a  story  told  of  the  Empe- 
ror Theodosius  the  Great,  which  illustrates  very  well  how  we  should  honor 
Christ.  There  were  at  that  time  two  great  parties  in  the  church.  One  of 
these  believed  and  taught  the  divinity  of  Christ — or  that  he  is  equal  to 
God  the  Father.  The  other  party,  called  Arians,  believed  and  taught  that 
Christ  was  not  divine ;  and  that  he  was  not  to  be  honored  and  worshiped 
as  God.  The  Emperor  Theodosius  favored  this  latter  party.  When  his 
son,  Arcadius,  was  about  sixteen  years  old,  his  father  determined  to  make 
him  a  sharer  of  his  throne,  and  passed  a  law  that  his  son  should  receive  the 
same  respect  and  honor  that  were  due  to  himself  And,  in  connection 
with  this  event,  an  incident  occurred  which  led  the  emperor  to  see  how 
wrong  the  view  was  which  he  held  respecting  the  character  of  Christ,  and 
to  give  it  up.  When  Arcadius  was  proclaimed  the  partner  of  his  father, 
in  the  empire,  the  officers  of  the  government,  and  other  prominent  per- 
sons, called  on  the  emperor  in  his  palace,  to  congratulate  him  on  the  occa- 
sion, and  to  pay  their  respects  to  his  son. 

Among  those  who  thus  came,  was  a  celebrated  bishop  of  the  church. 
He  was  very  decided  in  the  views  he  held  about  the  real  divinity  of  Christ, 
and  very  much  opposed  to  all  who^ienied  this  divinity. 

Coming  into  the  presence  of  the  emperor,  the  bishop  paid  his  respects 
to  him,  in  the  most  polite  and  proper  manner.  Then  he  was  about  to  re- 
tire from  the  palace,  without  taking  any  special  notice  of  the  emperor's 
son.  This  made  the  father  angry.  He  said  to  the  bishop,  "  Do  you  take 
no  notice  of  my  son  ?  Have  you  not  heard  that  I  have  made  him  a  part- 
ner with  myself,  in  the  government  of  the  empire  ?" 

The  good  old  bishop  made  no  reply  to  this,  but  going  up  to  Arcadius, 
he  laid  his  hand  on  his  head,  saying,  as  he  did  so—"  The  Lord  bless  thee, 
my  son ! "  and  was  again  turning  to  retire. 

Even  this  did  not  satisfy  the  emperor,  who  asked,  in  a  tone  of  sur- 
prise and  displeasure,  "  Is  tJiis  all  the  respect  you  pay  to  a  prince  whom  I 
have  made  equal  in  dignity  with  myself?" 


66o  THE     LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


With  great  warmth  the  bishop  answered — "  Does  your  majesty  resent 
so  hi"'hly  my  apparent  neglect  of  your  son,  because  I  do  not  treat  him 
with  equal  honor  to  yourself?  What,  then,  must  the  Eternal  God^\\\& 
King  of  heaven — think  of  you,  who  refuse  to  render  to  his  only  begotten 
Son,  the  honor  and  the  worship  that  he  claims  for  him?" 

This  had  such  an  effect  upon  the  emperor  that  he  changed  his  views 
on  this  subject,  and  ever  afterwards  took  part  with  those  who  acknow- 
ledged the  divinity  of  Christ,  and  honored  the  Son,  even  as  they  honored 
the  Father. 

And  so  we  see  that  the  second  lesson  taught  by  the  Transfiguration, 
was  the  lesson  of  instruction.  We  must  learn  to  think  of  Christ  as  the 
Father  in  heaven  thinks  of  him. 

And  then  there  is — A  Lesson  of  Duty — that  conies  to  us  from  this 
Transfigttration  scene. 

We  are  taught  this  lesson,  by  the  last  two  words  that  were  spoken,  by 
the  voice  which  the  apostles  heard,  from  the  cloud  that  overshadowed 
them.  These  are  the  words  : — ''  Hear  Him.'  "This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  I  am  well  pleased :  Hear  Him."  This  is  God's  command  to  every 
one  of  us.  To  hear  Jesus,  means  to  listen  attentively  to  what  he  has  to 
say,  and  to  do  it.  And  what  does  Jesus  say  to  us?  He  says  many  things. 
But  the  most  important  thing,  he  has  to  say  to  the  young,  is  Avhat  we  find 
in  St.  Math,  vi:  33:  ''  Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God."  This  means 
that  we  must  give  our  hearts  to  Jesus,  and  serve  him  while  we  are  young. 
We  must  do  ih\sfrst, — before  we  do  anything  else.  We  cannot  hear,  or 
obey  Jesus  in  anything,  till  we  hear  and  obey  him  in  this.  And  there  are 
three  good  reasons  why  we  should  do  this. 

We  should  "  hear  him"  because  there  is  safety  in  it.  We  are  exposed 
to  dangers  every  day,  and  nothing  will  so  help  to  keep  us  safe  in  the 
midst  of  these  dangers  as  hearing  Jesus,  and  doing  what  he  tells  us  to  do. 
Here  is  an  illustration  of  what  I  mean. 

Life  in  the  midst  of  danger. — There  was  an  alarm  of  fire  one  day, 
near  one  of  our  large  public  schools.  The  children  in  the  school  were 
greatly  frightened.  They  screamed,  and  left  their  places,  and  began  to 
rush  to  the  windows  and  stairs.  The  stairway,  leading  to  the  door,  was 
soon  choked  up ;  and  although  the  fire  never  reached  the  school-house, 


THE    TRANSFIGURATION.  66i 

many  of  the  children  had  their  limbs  broken,  and  were  bruised  and 
wounded  in  other  ways. 

But  there  was  one  little  girl,  who  remained  quietly  in  her  seat  during 
all  this  excitement.  When  the  alarm  was  over,  and  the  wounded  children 
had  been  taken  home,  and  order  was  restored  in  the  school,  the  teacher 
asked  this  little  girl  why  she  sat  still  in  her  seat,  and  did  not  rush  towards 
the  door,  as  the  other  girls  had  done. 

"My  father  is  a  fireman,"  she  said,  "and  he  has  always  told  me  that 
if  ever  there  was  a  cry  of  fire,  when  I  was  in  school,  I  must  remain  quiet 
in  my  seat,  for  that  was  the  safest  way.  I  was  dreadfully  frightened  ;  but 
I  knew  that  .what  father  had  told  me  was  best;  and  so  I  sat  still,  while  the 
others  were  running  to  the  door."  This  little  girl  heard  her  father.  She 
minded  him.  She  did  what  he  had  told  her  to  do,  and  she  found  safety 
in  doing  so.  And  if  we  ''hear  him"  of  whom  the  voice  from  the  Mount 
of  Transfiguration  speaks  to  us^we  shall  find  safety  from  many  a  danger. 

We  ought  to  learn  this  lesson  of  duty,  and  "  hear  him,"  because  there 
is  success  in  it. 

In  old  times,  when  the  racers  were  running  in  the  public  games,  if  a 
man  wished  to  be  successful  in  the  race,  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  fix 
his  eye  on  the  prize,  at  the  end  of  the  race-course,  and  keep  it  fixed  there 
till  he  reached  the  end  No  one  could  have  any  success  in  racing  who 
did  not  do  this. 

Here  is  an  incident  about  some  boys  at  play,  that  illustrates  the 
point  now  before  us. 

How  to  walk  straight. — A  light  snow  had  fallen  in  a  certain  village, 
and  some  of  the  village  boys  met  to  make  the  best  use  they  could  of  the 
new  fallen  snow.  It  was  too  dry  for  snow-balling,  and  was  not  deep 
enough  for  coasting ;  so  they  thought  they  would  improve  the  occasion 
by  playing  at  making  tracks  in  the  snow. 

There  was  a  large  meadow  near  by,  with  a  grand  old  oak  tree  stand- 
ing in  the  centre  of  it.  The  boys  gathered  round  the  tree,  and  stood,  on 
opposite  sides,  each  one  with  his  back  against  the  tree.  At  a  given  signal 
they  were  to  start,  and  walk  to  the  fence  opposite  to  each  of  them ;  and 
then  return  to  the  tree,  and  see  which  had  made  the  straightest  track. 

The  signal  was  given.     They  started.     They  reached  the  fence,  and 


66^  THE     LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

returned  to  the  tree.  "  Now,  boys,  who  has  made  the  straightest  track  ?  " 
said  one  of  the  boys,  named  James  Allison. 

"  Henry  Armstrong's  is  the  only  one  that  is  straight  at  all,"  said 
Thomas  Sanders. 

"  I  don't  see  how  we  all  contrived  to  go  so  crooked,  when  the  meadow 
is  so  smooth,  and  there  is  nothing  to  turn  us  out  of  the  way,"  said  one  of 
the  boys. 

And  then,  looking  to  their  successful  companion,  they  said — "Tell 
us,  Harry,  how  you  managed  to  make  so  straight  a  track?" 

Now  mark  what  Harry  said : — "  I  fixed  my  eye  on  yonder  tall  pine 
tree,  on  the  other  side  of  the  fence  towards  which  I  was  to  walk,  and 
never  looked  away  from  it  till  I  reached  the  fence." 

The  other  boys  were  walking  without  any  particular  aim  in  view. 
No  wonder  that  their  walk  was  crooked.  After  the  apostle  Paul  became 
a  Christian,  he  made  one  of  the  straightest  tracks  through  this  world  to 
heaven  that  ever  was  made.  And  he  made  it,  in  just  the  same  way,  in 
which  Harry  Armstrong  made  his  straight  track  through  that  meadow. 
We  have  seen  what  Harry  said  of  his  track  through  the  snow;  now  see 
what  St.  Paul  says  of  the  way  in  which  he  made  his  straight  track  through 
this  world  to  heaven.      This  is  what  he  says : 

"  One  thing  I  do ;  forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind,  and 
reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before,  I  press  toward  the 
mark,  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God,  in  Christ  Jesus,"  Phil,  iii : 
13,  14.  This  was  just  what  the  racer  used  to  do  in  the  ancient  games, 
when  he  fixed  his  eye  on  the  prize,  and  pressed  right  forward  till  he 
reached  it.  And  it  was  just  what  Harry  Armstrong  did  in  his  play.  He 
fixed  his  eye  on  the  big  pine  tree,  and  never  turned  to  the  right  hand,  or 
to  the  left  till  he  reached  it.  The  apostle  Paul  fixed  his  eye  on  Jesus,  and 
made  a  straight  track  through  the  world,  till  he  reached  the  glorious  heaven 
where  Jesus  dwells.  And,  in  doing  this,  the  great  apostle  was  only  practic- 
ing the  lesson  of  duty  taught  by  the  voice  that  speaks  from  the  Transfigu- 
ration scene.  ''  Hear  /i/iii"  said  that  voice.  And  if  you  and  I  listen  to  it, 
and  obey  it,  as  St.  Paul  did,  it  will  lead  us  to  follow  him  as  he  followed 
Christ;  and  then  we  shall  make  a  straight  path  through  this  world  to 
heaven,  as  he  did  in  his  Christian  course.     There  is  success  in  doing  this. 


His  Death  at  Jerusalem. 


663 


THE    TRANSFIGURATION,  665 

And  then  there  is — pyofit — in  learning  this  lesson,  as  well  as  safety 
and  success. 

David  says,  when  speaking  of  God's  commands,  "  In  keeping  of 
them  there  xs  great  reward','  Ps.  xix:  11.  This  is  true  of  all  God's  com- 
mands ;  and  it  is  especially  true  of  the  command  we  are  now  considering 
■ — "  Hear  him."  Samuel  obeyed  this  command,  and  it  made  him  a  bless- 
ing and  an  honor  to  the  nation  of  Israel.  David  obeyed  it,  and  it  made 
him  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  successful  kings.  Daniel  obeyed  it, 
and  it  covered  him  with  honor,  and  made  him  a  blessing  to  his  own  na- 
tion, and  to  the  church  of  Christ  in  every  age. 

The  Reward  of  Obedience. — Here  is  an  Eastern  story  which  illus- 
trates this  point  of  our  subject.  The  story  says  there  was  once  an 
enchanted  hill.  On  the  top  of  this  hill  a  great  treasure  was  hidden. 
This  treasure  was  put  there,  to  be  the  reward  of  any  one  who  should  reach 
the  top  of  the  hill,  without  looking  behind  him.  The  command,  and  the 
promise  given  to  every  young  person  who  set  out  to  climb  that  hill,  were 
—do  not  look  behind  you,  and  that  treasure  shall  be  yours.  But  there 
was  a  threat  added  to  the  command  and  promise.  The  threat  was,  if  you 
look  behind,  you  will  be  turned  into  a  stone.  Many  young  persons  started, 
to  try  and  gain  that  prize.  But  the  way  to  the  top  of  the  hill  led  them 
through  beautiful  groves,  which  covered  the  side  of  the  hill.  In  these 
groves  were  birds  singing  sweetly,  and  sounds  of  music  were  heard,  and 
melodious  voices  inviting  those  who  passed  by,  to  stop  and  rest  awhile. 
One  after  another,  of  those  who  set  out  for  the  prize  at  the  top  of  the  hill, 
would  stop,  and  look  round  to  see  where  the  voices  came  from ;  and  im- 
nediately  they  were  turned  into  stones.  "  Hence,"  says  the  story,  "  in  a 
little  while  the  hillside  was  covered  with  stones,  into  which  those  had 
been  turned,  who  neglected  the  command  given  them  when  they  started." 

Of  course  there  never  was  such  a  hill  as  this.  But  the  story  gives  us 
a  good  illustration.  Our  life  may  well  be  compared  to  such  a  hill.  The 
treasure,  on  the  top  of  it,  represents  the  reward  that  awaits  us  in  heaven, 
if  we  serve  God  faithfully.  The  songs,  and  the  voices,  from  the  groves, 
on  the  hill-side,  represent  the  temptations  that  surround  us  in  our  daily 
paths.  The  lesson  of  duty  that  comes  to  us  from  the  Transfiguration 
scene — "  Hear  him  " — is  the  only  thing  that  can  preserve  us  from  these 


666  THE     LIFE    OF  J.ESUS   CHRIST. 

temptations.  If  we  hear  Jesus  when  he  says  to  us — "  follow  me  ;  "  if  we 
give  him  our  hearts  and  walk  in  his  way,  he  will  carry  us  through  all 
temptations ;  he  will  bring  us  safely  to  the  top  of  the  hill ;  and  the  reward 
laid  up  there  will  be  ours.  Let  us  learn  this  lesson  of  duty,  because  there 
is  safety  in  it;  there  is  success  in  it;  there  is  profit  in  it. 

And  so  we  have  spoken  of  two  things  in  connection  with  the  Trans- 
figuration; these  are  the  wonders  that  attended  it,  and  the  lessons  taught 
by  it.  The  wonders  are  three — the  wonderful  change — the  wonderful 
company — and  the  wonderful  conversation ;  and  the  lessons  are  three — 
the  lesson  of  hope— the  lesson  of  instruction — and  the  lesson  of  duty. 

In  leaving  this  subject,  let  us  lift  up  our  hearts  to  Jesus,  and  say,  ;n 
the  beautiful  language  of  the  Te  Deum : 

"Thou  art  the     King  of  Glory,  O  Christ! 
Thou  art  the  everlasting  Son  of  the  Father. 
When  Thou  hadst  overcome  the  sharpness  of  death 
Thou  didst  open  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  believers. 
Thou  sittest  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
In  the  glory  of  the  Father. 

We  believe  that  thou  shalt  come  to  be  our  Judge. 
We  therefore  pray  thee,  help  thy  servants 
Whom  thou  hast  redeemed  with  thy  precious  blood. 
Make  them  to  be  numbered  with  thy  saints, 
In  glory  everlasting.      Amen." 


-^-A-t 


Mount  of  Olives  from  the  wall  of  Jerusalem. 


THE   LESSONS   FROM   OLIVET. 


UR  last  chapter  was  on  the  Transfiguration.  The 
next  will  be  on  The  Last  Supper.  Between 
these  two  events  in  our  Saviour's  life,  how 
many  interesting  incidents  took  place!  How 
many  important  sayings  that  fell  from  his 
gracious  lips,  during  this  period,  are  written 
for  our  instruction  by  the  four  Evangelists ! 
There  is,  for  instance,  the  beautiful  lesson 
about  what  it  is  on  which  the  value  of  our 
gifts  depend.  He  taught  this  lesson  when  he 
saw  the  rich  casting  their  gifts  into  the  trea- 
sury. Among  them  came  "a  certain  poor 
widow,  casting  in  two  mites.  And  he  said, 
Of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you,  that  this  poor  widow  hath  cast  in  more  than 
they  all; — for  she  of  her  penury  hath  cast  in  all  the  living  she  had,"  Luke 
xxi :   1-4.     But,  from  among  all  these,  we  have  only  room  for  one  chapter. 

A  dozen,  or  twenty  chapters  would  be  needed  on  this  part  of  the  life  of 

667 


668  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


Christ.  Where  there  are  so  many  that  might  be  taken,  it  has  been  very 
difficult  to  decide  which  is  the  best.  In  deciding  this  matter,  I  do  not 
think  we  could  do  better  than  join  the  company  of  the  three  favored  dis- 
ciples, Peter,  John,  and  James,  and  go,  in  thought  with  them,  as  they  fol- 
lowed their  Master  from  his  last  visit  to  the  temple  in  Jerusalem,  up  to  the 
top  of  the  Mount  of  Olives.  There  Jesus  took  his  seat,  and  his  disciples 
sat  around  him,  anxious  to  ask  him  some  questions  about  what  he  had  said 
to  them  in  the  temple.  We  read  in  St.  Mark  xiii:  1-2,  that  as  he  was 
going  out  of  the  temple  the  disciples  called  his  attention  to  the  beauty  of 
that  sacred  building,  and  the  great  size,  and  splendor  of  some  of  the  stones 
that  were  in  it.  Then  Jesus  pointed  to  that  great  building,  and  told  them, 
that  the  time  was  coming  when  it  would  be  destroyed,  and  "  there  should 
not  be  left  one  stone  upon  another  that  should  not  be  thrown  down." 
This  filled  the  minds  of  the  disciples  with  surprise  and  wonder.  They 
supposed  that  their  temple  would  last  as  long  as  the  world  stood.  They 
thought  that  it  was  the  end  of  the  world  of  which  Jesus  was  speaking ; 
and  they  were  very  anxious  that  he  should  tell  them  something  more 
about  it.  And  so,  as  soon  as  they  were  seated  round  him,  on  the  Mount 
of  Olives,  they  said,  "Tell  us,  when  shall  these  things  be?  and  what  shall 
be  the  sign,  when  all  these   things  shall  be  fulfilled  ?  "  St.  Mark  xii :  4. 

And  now,  we  may  imagine  ourselves  sitting,  with  Jesus  and  his  dis- 
ciples, on  the  Mount  of  Olives.  As  we  look  down  we  see  the  city  of  Je- 
rusalem spread  out  beneath  our  feet.  We  see  its  walls,  and  its  palaces. 
And  there,  just  before  us,  outshining  every  thing  in  its  beauty,  is  that 
sacred  temple,  that  was  "  forty  and  six  years  in  building."  Its  white  marble 
walls,  its  golden  spires,  and  pinnacles,  are  sparkling  in  the  beams  of  the 
sun,  as  they  shine  upon  them.  No  wonder  the  Jews  were  so  proud  of 
it !     It  was  a  glorious  building. 

But  now  Jesus  is  beginning  to  speak.  Let  us  listen  to  what  he  says. 
The  lessons  that  he  taught  on  the  Mount  of  Olives  run  all  through  the 
24th  and  25th  chapters  of  St.  Matthew.  In  the  first  of  these  chapters, 
Jesus  gave  them  a  sign,  by  which  those  who  learn  to  understand  what 
he  here  says,  might  know  when  his  second  coming  is  to  take  place. 
These  are  some  of  the  lessons  from  Olivet.  I  should  like,  very  much, 
to  stop  and  talk  about  them.     But  this  cannot  be  now.     We  pass  over 


■^^^r:;*..^! 


# 


fMrn 


. /A^y  ^.^/^t>t/c^:^ 


■XJ'yfy. 


GEOROE  B&RKIE.   PUBLISHER 


THE  LESSONS   FROM    OLIVET. 


669 


to  the  25th  chapter  of  St.  Matthew.  In  this  chapter  we  have  three 
of  our  Saviour's  parables.  These  are  very  solemn  and  instructive. 
They  all  refer  to  the  judgment,  that  must  take  place  when  Jesus  shall  come 
into  our  world  again.     The  second   of  these  parables  is  the  one  we  are 


■iiirnifiii 


'  She  threw  in  two  mites." 


now  to  consider.  It  is  called — ^"  The  Parable  of  the  Talents."  We  find 
It  in  St.  Math.  XXV :  14-30.  And  the  lessons  from  0//7'<?/,  which  we  are 
now  to  try  and  learn,  are  all  drawn  from  the  words  of  our  Saviour,  con- 
tained in  the  verses  just  mentioned. 


670  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

This,  then,  is  our  present  subject — The  Lessons  fro/n  Olivet  And 
there  2cctfoHr  lessons,  in  this  part  of  our  Saviour's  discourse,  of  which  we 
are  now  to  speak.  The  first  is— the  lesson  about  the  Master.  The  second 
— the  lesson  about  the  servants.  The  third  is— the  lesson  about  the  talents  ; 
and  the  fourth,  the  lesson  about  the  rewards. 

The  lesson  about — The  Master — is  the  first  thing  of  which  we  arc  to 
speak. 

In  the  14th  verse  of  this  25th  chapter  of  St.  Matthew,  Jesus  speaks  of 
himself  as — "a  man  travelling  into  a  far  country," — and  of  his  people 
as — "his  own  servants."  In  the  19th  verse  he  speaks  of  himself  as 
"  the  lord  of  those  servants,  coming  back,  after  a  long  time,  to  reckon 
with  them." 

In  St.  Luke  xix:  11-27  "^^  have  another  of  our  Saviour's  parables, 
very  similar  to  the  one  now  before  us.  There,  he  speaks  of  himself  as  "  a 
nobleman,  who  went  into  a  far  country,  to  receive  for  himself  a  kingdom, 
and  to  return."  This  language  was  borrowed  from  a  custom  that  pre- 
vailed in  those  days.  The  headquarters  of  the  government  of  the  world 
then,  was  in  the  city  of  Rome.  The  kings,  and  rulers  of  different  countries, 
received  their  appointments,  to  the  offices  they  held,  from  the  Roman  Em- 
peror. Archelaus,  the  son  of  Herod,  succeeded  his  father  as  king  of 
Judea.  But,  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  go  to  Rome,  and  get  permission 
from  the  emperor  to  hold,  and  exercise  that  office.  He  had  done  this,  not 
very  long  before  our  Saviour  applied  to  himself  the  words  we  are  now 
considering.  This  was  a  fact  well  known.  And  this  is  the  illustration 
which  Jesus  here  uses  in  reference  to  himself  He  is  the  Head — the 
Prince — the  Lord — the  Master  of  all  things  in  his  church.  He  spoke  of 
himself  to  his  disciples  as  their  "Lord  and  Master,"  St.  John  xiii :  14. 
He  tells  us  that  he  has  gone  to  heaven,  as  Archelaus  went  to  Rome,  "  to 
receive  for  himself  a  kingdom  and  to  return."  He  said  he  would  be 
absent  "a  long  time,"  verse  19.  And  this  is  true.  He  has  been  absent 
more  than  eighteen  hundred  years.  He  said  he  would  "  return,"  or  come 
again.  And  so  he  will.  It  is  just  as  certain  that  he  will  come  again,  as 
it  is  that  he  went  away.  And  he  will  come,  not  in  figure,  or  in  spirit,  but 
in  person,  as  he  went.  Remember  what  the  aneels  said  about  this  to  his 
disciples,  at  the  time   of  his   departure.     "Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why  stand 


THE    LESSONS    FROM    OLIVET. 


671 


ye  gazing  up  into  heaven  ?  this  same  Jesus,  which  is  taken  from  you  into 
heaven,  shall  so  come,  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into  heaven," 
Acts  i :   II.     He  said  he  would  return,  and  so  he  will. 

But,  in  the  meantime,  he  would  have  us  remember  that  he  is  still  our 
Lord  and  Master.  No  master  ever  had  such  a  right  to  be  Lord  and  Ruler 
as  he  has.     God  the  Father  has  appointed  him  to  be  "  Head  over  all 


—    '*^< 


'  There  shall  not  be  left  one  stone  upon  another.' 


things  to  his  church,"  Ephes.  i:  22.  He  is  our  Master,  because  he  made 
us.  This  is  what  no  other  master  ever  did  for  his  servants.  He  is  our 
Master  because  h.& preserves  us.  We  cannot  keep  ourselves,  for  a  single 
moment,  but  he  keeps  us,  all  the  time, — by  night,  and  by  day.  And  he 
is  our  Master  because,  when  we  had  sold  ourselves  into  sin,  and  were 
appointed  unto  death,  /ic  redeemed  ns.  He  bought  us  with  the  price  of 
his  own  precious  blood.     He  made  our  hands  to  work  for  him;  and  our 


672  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

feet  to  walk  in  his  ways.  He  made  our  hearts  to  love  him ; — our  minds 
to  think  about  him  ;  our  eyes  to  see  the  beauty  of  his  wondrous  works, 
our  ears  to  listen  to  his  gracious  words,  and  our  lips  and  tongues  to  be 
employed  in  speaking,  and  singing  his  praises. 

We  cannot  be  our  own  masters.  "I  am  my  own  master!" — said  a 
young  man,  proudly,  to  a  friend  who  was  trying  to  persuade  him  from 
doing  a  wrong  thing;  "  I  am  my  own  master!" 

"That's  impossible,"  said  his  friend.  "You  can  not  be  master  of 
yourself,  unless  you  are  master  of  everything  within,  and  everything 
around  you.  Look  within.  There  is  your  conscience  to  keep  clear,  and 
your  heart  to  make  pure,  your  temper  to  govern,  your  will  to  control,  and 
your  judgment  to  instruct.  And  then  look  without.  There  are  storms, 
and  seasons ;  accidents,  and  dangers;  a  world  full  of  evil  men  and  evil 
spirits.  What  can  you  do  with  these?  And  yet,  if  you  don't  master 
them,  they'll  master  you." 

"That's  so,"  said  the  young  man. 

"  Now,  I  don't  undertake  any  such  thing,"  said  his  friend.  "  I  am 
sure  I  should  fail,  if  I  did.  Saul,  the  first  king  of  Israel,  wanted  to  be  his 
own  master,  and  failed.  So  did  Herod.  So  did  Judas.  No  man  can  be 
his  own  master.  '  One  is  your  Master,  even  Christ,'  says  the  apostle.  I 
work  under  his  direction.  He  is  my  regulator,  and  when  he  is  Master  all 
goes  right.  Think  of  these  words, — 'He  is  your  Master,  even  Christ!  If 
we  put  ourselves  under  his  leadership  we  shall  surely  win  at  last." 

And,  as  we  cannot  be  our  own  master,  if  we  refuse  to  take  Christ  as 
our  Ruler,  there  is  nothing  left  for  us  but  to  have  Satan  as  our  master. 
These  are  the  only  two  masters  we  can  have.  We  must  make  our  choice 
between  them.  If  Jesus  is  not  our  Master,  Satan  must  be.  If  Jesus  is 
our  Master  here,  he  will  share  his  glory  with  us  hereafter.  If  we  serve 
Satan  here,  we  must  share  his  punishment  hereafter.  This  is  one  of  the 
solemn  lessons  that  Jesus  taught  on  Olivet.  He  is  speaking  of  the  day 
of  judgment.  He  represents  himself  as  on  the  judgment-seat.  Two 
great  companies  are  before  him.  On  his  right  hand  are  those  who  took 
him  for  their  Master.  To  them  he  says — "  Come,  ye  blessed  children  of 
my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you,  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world,"  St.  Math,  xxv :  34. 


THE  LESSONS    FROM    OLIVET. 


67: 


On  his  left  are  those  who  took  Satan  for  their  master.  The  awful 
words  he  speaks  to  them  are : — "  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  ever- 
lasting fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels."  St.  Matth.  xxv:  41. 

This  is  our  first  lesson  from  Olivet — the  lesson  about  the  Master. 

The  second  lesson  from  Olivet  is  the  lesson  about — the  Servants. 

We  are  told  that  before  this  nobleman  went  away  to  the  far  country, 


Ruins  of  the  Palace  of  the  Caesars  at  Rome. 


he  called  to  him  "his  own  servants."  The  nobleman  here  spoken  of 
means  Jesus,  our  blessed  Master.  And  now  the  question  is — who  are 
meant  by  "  his  own  servants  ?"  He  has  three  kinds  of  servants.  The 
first  kind  is  made  up  of  those  who  serve  him  ignorantly.  This  takes  in 
all  those  things  that  have  no  knowledge  or  understanding.  There,  for 
instance  are  the  sun, — the  moon, — the  stars, — the  mountains,— the  hills, — 


674  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

the  plains, — the  valleys, — the  rivers, — the  seas, — the  wind  that  blows, — ^the 
rains  that  descend, — and  the  dews  that  distil ;  these  all  serve  God,  with- 
out knowing  it.  He  made  them  to  serve  him,  and  they  do  it ;  but  they 
do  it  ignorantly.  "  His  kingdom  rnlctJi  over  all','  and  it  makes  all  these 
things  his  servants.  They  do  exactly  what  they  were  made  for,  but  they 
do  it  ignorantly. 

And  there  is  another  class,  of  our  Lord's  creatures,  who  serve  him 
imwillingly.  This  is  a  very  large  class.  It  takes  in  all  the  wicked  men, 
and  the  wicked  spirits  who  are  to  be  found  anywhere.  They  do  not  wish 
to  serve  God,  and  yet,  in  spite  of  themselves,  they  are  obliged  to  do  it. 
We  see  this  illustrated,  when  we  think  of  the  way  in  which  the  crucifi.xion 
of  our  blessed  Saviour  was  brought  about.  Satan  stirred  up  the  Jews  to 
take  Jesus  and  put  him  to  death.  God  allowed  them  to  do  it.  They  did 
it  of  their  own  choice — as  freely,  and  as  voluntarily,  as  they  ever  did  any- 
thing in  their  lives.  They  did  it  because  they  hated  him,  and  wished  to 
get  him  out  of  their  way.  So  they  nailed  him  to  the  cross  in  their  malice, 
and  their  rage.  This  was  the  very  thing  God  had  determined  should  be 
done,  that  he  might  save  and  bless  the  world.  He  allowed  Satan,  and  the 
Jews,  to  do  just  what  their  wicked  hearts  prompted  them  to  do ;  and  then 
he  overruled  it  for  good.  And,  in  this  way,  as  David  says,  he  "  makes  the 
wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,  and  the  remainder  of  it  he  restrains."  And 
thus  we  see  how  evil  men,  and  evil  spirits,  are  God's  servants  //;/- 
willingly. 

But  then,  there  is  another  class  of  persons  who  serve  God  loilliiigly. 
This  takes  in  all  those  who  know  and  love  him.  He  speaks  of  them,  in 
this  parable  as  "  his  own  servants."  When  they  find  out  what  he  has  done 
for  theni,  the  thought  of  it  fills  their  hearts  with  love;  and  then  they  desire 
to  serve  him,  and  do  all  he  tells  them  to  do,  in  order  to  show  their  love  to 
him.  And  this  is  what  Jesus  means  when  he  says — "  Take  my  yoke  upon 
you ;  for  my  yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is  light."  When  we  really  love 
a  person,  anything  that  we  can  do  for  that  person  is  easy  and  pleasant  to 
us.  And  so  it  is  the  great  love  for  Jesus,  that  his  people  have,  which  makes 
his  yoke  easy,  and  his  burden  light  to  them. 

How  to  become  a  willing  servant  of  yesus. — A  little  boy  came  to  his 
grandmother  one  day,  and  asked  her  how  he  could  become  a  Christian. 


THE    LESSONS    FROM    OLIVET. 


675 


She  answered  very  simply,  "  Ask  Jesus  to  give  you  a  new  heart,  and  be- 
lieve he  does  it  when  yon  ask  him." 

"Is  that  all?"  said  the  little  fellow  joyfully;  "oh!  that  is  easy 
enough."  So  he  went  to  his  room,  and  kneeling  beside  his  bed,  asked 
Jesus  to  give  him  a  new  heart.  He  believed  that  the  dear  Saviour,  who 
loves  little  children,  did  hear  and  answer  his  prayer.  And  he  left  his 
room  with  a  happy  heart,  for  he  felt  sure  that  he  was  now  one  of  Christ's 


^^"AiAi    ___  Jlz^ 


«  «  ^ 


The  Pool  of  Hezekiah,  Jerusalem. 


own  loving  children,  and  willing  servants.  And  this  is  the  way  in  which 
we  must  take  the  yoke  of  Jesus  upon  us,  and  become  his  willing  servants. 
And  then  in  everything  that  we  do  we  can  be  serving  him.  As  St.  Paul 
says — "  whether  we  eat  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  we  do,  we  can  do  all  to  the 
glory  of  God." 

A  good  man  once  said  "  that  if  God  should  send  two  angels  down 
from  heaven,  and  should  tell  one  of  them  to  sit  on  a  throne,  and  rule  a 
kingdom,  and  the  other  to  sweep  the  streets  of  a  city,  the  latter  would  feel 


676  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

that  he  was  serving  God,  as  acceptably  in  handling  his  broom,  as  his 
brother  angel  was  in  holding  his  sceptre.  And  this  is  true.  We  see  the 
same  illustrated  in  the  fable  of — 

The  Stream  and  the  Mill. — "  I  notice,"  said  the  stream  to  the  mill, 
"  that  you  grind  beans,  as  well  and  as  cheerfully,  as  you  do  the  finest 
wheat."  "  Certainly,"  said  the  mill;  "what  am  I  here  for  but  to  grind  ? 
and  so  long  as  I  work,  what  does  it  signify  to  me  what  the  work  is  ?  My 
business  is  to  serve  my  master,  and  I  am  not  a  whit  more  useful  when  I 
turn  out  the  finest  flour,  than  when  I  turn  out  the  coarsest  meal.  My 
honor  is,  not  in  doing  fine  work,  but  in  doing  any  thing  that  is  given  me 
to  do  in  the  best  way  that  I  can."  That  is  true.  And  this  is  just  the 
way  in  which  Jesus  wishes  us  to  serve  him  when  he  says  to  "  his  own 
servants,"  "  Occupy  till  I  come."  This  means  serve  me,  in  everything,  as 
you  would  do,  if  you  saw  me  standing  by  your  side. 

How  to  serve  God.  Willie's  mother  let  him  go,  with  his  little  sister, 
into  the  street  to  play .  She  told  them  not  to  go  off  the  street,  on  which 
their  house  stood.  Willie  was  a  little  fellow,  and  lisped  very  much  in 
talking;  but  he  was  brave,  and  he  was  obedient.  Presently  his  sister 
asked  him  to  go  into  another  street ;  but  he  refused.  "  Mamma  thaid 
no,"  was  Willie's  answer.  "  The  thaid  we  muthn't  do  off  thith  threet," 
said  Willie  in  his  lisping  way.  "  Only  just  a  little  way  round  the  corner," 
said  his  teasing  sister.     "  Mamma'll  never  know  it." 

"  But  I  thall  know  it  my  own  thelf ;  and  I  don't  want  to  know  any 
thuch  a  mean  thing;  and  I  won't!"  And  Willie  straightened  himself, 
and  stood  up  like  a  man.  That  was  brave  and  beautiful  in  Willie.  And 
that  is  the  way  in  which  we  should  try  to  serve  our  heavenly  Master. 

How  a  Boy  may  Serve  God.  A  gentleman  met  a  little  boy,  wheeling 
his  baby  brother  in  a  child's  carriage.  "My  little  man,"  said  the  gentle- 
man, "  what  are  you  doing  to  serve  God  ?  "  The  little  fellow  stopped  a 
moment,  and  then,  looking  up  into  the  gentleman's  face,  he  said  :^^"  Why, 
you  see,  Sir,  I'm  trying  to  make  baby  happy,  so  that  he  won't  worry 
Mamma  who  is  sick."  That  was  a  noble  answer.  In  trying  to  amuse 
his  baby  brother,  and  to  relieve  his  poor  sick  mother,  that  little  boy  was 
serving  God  as  truly,  and  as  acceptably,  as  the  angel  Gabriel  does  when 
he  wings  his  way,  on  a  mission  of  mercy,  to  some  far  off  world. 


THE    LESSONS    FROM    OLIVET. 


677 


And  this  is  the  lesson  about  the  servants  that  comes  to  us  from  OHvet. 

The  lesson  about — the  talents — is  the  third  lesson  that  conies  to  as 
from  Olivet. 

This  parable  tells  us  that  before  the  Master  went  away,  he  "  called 
his  own  servants,  and  delivered  unto  them  his  goods.  Unto  one  he  gave 
five  talents,  to  another  two,  to  another  one;  to  every  man  according  to 
his  several  ability."  vers.  14,  15.  In  St.  Luke's  account  of  the  parable,  what 
the  master  gave  to  his  servants,  is  spoken  of  as  pounds,  and  each  servant 


Solomon's  Pool,  Jerusalem. 


is  said  to  have  received  one  pound.  These  talents  or  pounds,  both  mean 
the  same  thing.  They  denote  something  with  which  we  can  do  good,  and 
make  ourselves  useful.  And  it  is  plain,  from  both  these  parables,  that  the 
Master  gave  at  least  o/ie  talent,  or  one  pound,  to  each  of  his  servants. 
None  of  them  were  left  without  some  portion  of  their  Master's  goods. 
And  the  lesson  from  Olivet,  which  comes  to  us  here,  is  that  every  one  of 
us  has  a  talent,  or  a  pound,  that  our  Master  Jesus,  has  given  us,  and  which 
he  expects  us  to  use  for  him.  And  the  most  important  thing  for  us,  is  to 
find  out  what  our  talents  are,  and  how  we  can  best  use  them,  so  as  to  be 
ready  to  give  a  good  account  of  them  when  our  Master  comes  to  reckon 
with  us. 


678 


THE     LIFE    OF  yESUS   CHRIST. 


A  TALENT  FOR  EACH. 


"  God  entrusts  to  all 

Talents  few  or  many; 
None  so  young  and   small 
That  they  have  not  any. 

Little  drops  of  rain 

Bring  the  springing  flowers. 
And  I   may  attain 

Much  by  little  powers. 

Every  little  mite, 

Every  little  measure, 

Helps  to  spread  the   light, 
Helps  to  swell  the  trea'-i-re 

God  will   surely  ask, 
Ere  I  enter  heaven, 

Have  I  done  the  task 

Which  to  me  was  given?' 


''^^< 


THE    LESSONS    FROM    OLIVET.  679 

One  Talent  Improved. — One  day,  amidst  the  crowded  streets  of  Lon- 
don, a  poor  little  news  boy,  had  both  his  legs  broken,  by  a  dray  passing 
over  them.  He  was  laid  away,  in  one  of  the  beds  of  a  hospital,  to  die.  On 
the  next  cot  to  him  was  another  little  fellow,  of  the  same  class,  who  had 
been  picked  up,  sick  with  the  fever  which  comes  from  hunger  and  want. 
The  latter  boy  crept  close  up  to  his  poor  suffering  companion  and  said: 

"  Bobby,  did  you  ever  hear  about  Jesus  ?"' 

"  No,  I  never  heard  of  him." 

"Bobby,  I  went  to  the  mission-school  once;  and  they  told  us  that 
Jesus  would  take  us  up  to  heaven  when  we  die,  if  we  axed  him;  and  we'd 
never  have  any  more  hunger  or  pain." 

"  But  I  couldn't  ax  such  a  great  gentleman  as  he  is  to  do  anything  for 
me.     He  wouldn't  stop  to  speak  to  a  poor  boy  like  me." 

"  But  he'll  do  all  that  for  you  Bobby,  if  you  ax  him." 

"  But  how  can  I  ax  him,  if  I  don't  know  where  he  lives  ?  and  how 
'  could  I  get  there  when  both  my  legs  is  broke  ?" 

"  Bobby,  they  told  us,  at  the  mission-school,  as  how  Jesus  passes  by. 
The  teacher  said  he  goes  around.  How  do  you  know  but  what  he  might 
come  round  to  this  hospital  this  very  night?  You'd  know  him  if  you  was 
to  see  him." 

"  But  I  can't  keep  my  eyes  open.  My  legs  feels  awful  bad.  Doctor 
says  I'll  die." 

"  Bobby,  hold  up  ycr  hand,  and  he'll  know  what  you  want,  when  he 
passes  by."  They  got  the  hand  up ;  but  it  dropped.  They  tried  it  again, 
and  it  slowly  fell  back.  Three  times  they  got  up  the  little  hand,  only  to 
let  it  fall.     Bursting  into  tears  he  said,  "  I  give  it  up." 

"Bobby,"  said  his  tender-hearted  companion,  "lend  me  yer  hand. 
Put  your  elbow  on  mypiller:  I  can  do  without  it."  So  the  hand  was 
propped  up.  And  when  they  came  in  the  morning,  the  boy  lay  dead  ;  but 
his  hand  was  still  held  up  for  Jesus.  And  don't  you  think  that  he  heard 
and  answered  the  silent,  but  eloquent  appeal  which  it  made  to  him,  for  his 
pardon  and  grace,  and  salvation,  to  that  poor  dying  boy  ?     I  do,  I  do. 

Bobby's  friend  had  been  once  to  the  mission-school.  He  had  but  a 
single  talent;  but,  he  made  a  good  use  of  it,  when  he  employed  it  to 
lead  that  wounded,  suffering,  dying  boy  to  Jesus. 


68o  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Good  Fnends.  "I  wish  I  had  some  good  friends,  to  help  me  on  in 
life !"  cried  lazy  Dennis,  with  a  yawn. 

"Good  friends,"  said  his  master,  "why  you've  got  ten  ;  how  many  do 
you  want  ?" 

"I'm  sure  I've  not  half  so  many;  and  those  I  have  are  too  poor  to 
help  me  ?" 

"  Count  your  fingers,  my  boy,"  said  the  master. 

Dennis  looked  down  on  his  big,  strong  hands.  "  Count  thumbs  and 
all,"  added  the  master. 

"  I  have ;  there  are  ten,"  said  the  lad. 

"  Then  never  say  you  have  not  ten  good  friends,  able  to  help  you  on 
in  life.  Try  what  those  true  friends  can  do,  before  you  go  grumbling  and 
fretting  because  you  have  none  to  help  you." 

Now,  suppose  that  we  put  the  word  talents,  for  the  word  friends,  in 
this  little  story.  Then,  we  may  each  of  us  hold  out  our  two  hands  before 
us,  and  say  "here  are  ten  talents,  which  God  has  given  me  to  use  for  him. 
Let  me  try  and  do  all  the  good  I  can  with  these  ten  talents." 

THE   BEST   THAT   I   CAN. 

"  I  cannot  do  much,"  said  a  little  star, 

"To  make  the  dark  world  bright; 
My  silvery  beams  can  not  struggle  far 

Through  the  folding  gloom  of  night ; 
But  I'm  only  a  part  of  God's  great  plan. 
And  I'll  cheerfully  do  the  best  I  can." 

A  child  went  merrily  forth  to  play, 

But  a  thought,  like  a  silver  thread, 
Kept  winding  in  and  out,  all  day. 

Through  the  happy  golden  head. 
Mother  said, — "  Darling,  do  all  you  can  , 
For  you  are  a  part  of  God's  great  plan." 

So  .she  helped  a  younger  child    along, 
When  the  road  was  rough  to  the  feet, 


THE   LESSONS    FROM    OLIJE^T.  681 

And  she  sung  from  her  heart  a  little  song 

That  we  all  thought  passing  sweet; 
And  her  father,  a  weary,  toil-worn   man, 
Said,  "  I,  too,  will  do  the  best  I  can." 

^  Noble  Boy.  "  Not  long  ago,"  said  a  Christian  lady,  "  I  saw  a  boy 
do  something  that  made  me  glad  for  a  week.  Indeed  it  fills  my  heart 
with  tenderness  and  good  feeling,  whenever  I  think  about  it.  But  let  me 
tell  you  what  it  was." 

"As  I  was  walking  along  a  crowded  street,  I  saw  an  old  blind  man, 
walking  on,  without  any  one  to  lead  him.  He  went  very  slow ;  by  feeling 
his  way  with  his  cane. 

"  He's  w^alking  straight  to  the  highest  part  of  the  curb-stone,"  said  I 
to  myself  "And  it's  very  high  too.  I  wonder  if  some  one  won't  help  him 
and  start  him  in  the  right  direction." 

Just  then,  a  boy,  about  fourteen  years  old,  who  was  playing  near  by, 
ran  up  to  the  old  man,  and  gently  putting  his  hand  through  the  man's 
arm,  said : — "  Allow  me,  my  friend,  to  lead  you  across  the  street."  By  this 
time  there  w^ere  three  or  four  others  w^atching  the  boy.  He  not  only 
helped  the  old  man  over  one  crossing,  but  led  him  over  another  to  the 
lower  side  of  the  street.     Then  he  ran  back  to  his  play. 

Now  this  boy  thought  he  had  only  done  an  act  of  kindness  to  that 
old  man.  But  just  see  how  much  farther  than  that,  the  use  of  his  one  tal- 
ent went.  The  three  boys,  with  w^hom  he  was  playing,  and  who  had 
watched  his  kind  act,  were  happier,  and  better  for  it,  and  felt  that  they  must 
be  more  careful  to  do  little  kindnesses  to  those  about  them. 

The  three  or  four  persons,  who  stopped  to  watch  the  boy,  turned  away 
with  a  tender  smile  upon  their  faces,  ready  to  follow  the  good  example  of 
that  noble  boy.  I  am  sure  that  I  felt  more  gentle  and  loving  towards 
every  one,  from  what  I  had  seen  that  boy  do. 

And  then,  another  one  that  was  made  happy,  was  the  boy  himself 
For,  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  do  a  kind  act,  or  to  make  any  one  else  hap- 
py, without  feeling  better,  and  happier  ourselves.  To  be  good,  and  to  do 
good,  is  the  way  to  be  happy.  This  is  our  mission  here  in  this  w^orld. 
Whatever  talents  our  Master  has  given  us,  he  intends  that  we  should  use 
them  in  this  way. 


682  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Tiny  s  IVorkfor  God. — Two  little  girls,  Leila  and  Tiny,  were  sitting, 
one  summer  day,  under  the  tree  which  grew  beside  their  home. 

Both  children  had  been  quiet  for  a  little  while,  when  suddenly  Tiny 
raised  her  blue  eyes,  and  said,  "  I  am  so  happy,  Leila.  I  do  love  the 
flowers,  and  the  birdies,  and  you,  and  everybody  so  much."  Then  she 
added,  in  a  whisper,  "  And  I  love  God,  who  made  us  all  so  happy.  Sister, 
I  wish  I  could  do  something  for  him." 

"  Mother  says  if  we  love  him,  that  is  what  he  likes  best  of  all,"  said 
Leila. 

"  Yes,  but  I  do  so  want  to  do  something  for  him — something  that 
would  give  me  trouble.     Can't  you  think  of  anything  ?" 

Leila  thought  a  little,  and  said,  "  Perhaps  you  could  print  a  text,  for 
the  flowers  mother  sends  every  week,  to  the  sick  people  in  the  hospital. 
They  are  so  glad  to  have  the  flowers,  and  then  the  text  might  help  them 
think  about  our  Father  in  heaven." 

"Oh!  thank  you,  sister,  that  will  be  so  nice!  I  will  write — 'Suffer 
the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not.'  " 

But  Tiny  was  only  a  little  over  four  years  old,  and  it  was  hard  for  her 
to  hold  a  pen,  but  she  managed  to  print  two  letters  every  day,  till  the  text 
was  finished.  Then  she  went  alone  to  her  room,  and  laying  the  text  on 
a  chair,  she  kneeled  down  beside  it,  and  said — "Heavenly  Father,  I  have 
done  this  for  you :  please  take  it  from  Tiny,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake. 
Amen."  And  God  heard  the  prayer,  for  he  always  listens  when  children 
truly  pray. 

So  Tiny's  text  was  sent  up  to  London,  and  a  lady  put  a  very  pretty 
flower  into  the  card  and  took  it  to  the  hospital.  She  stopped  beside  a 
bed  where  a  little  boy  was  lying.  His  face  was  almost  as  white  as  the  pil- 
low, on  which  he  lay,  and  his  dark  eyes  were  filled  with  tears. 

"  Is  the  pain  very  bad  to-day,  Willie  ?" 

"  Yes,  miss ;  its  dreadful-like.  But  it's  not  so  much  the  pain  as  I 
mind.  I'm  used  to  that,  yer  know.  Father  beat  me  every  day  a'most, 
when  he  was  drunk.  But  the  doctor  says  I'm  too  ill  for  'im  to  'ave  any 
'opes  for  me,  and  I'm  mighty  afeard  to  die." 

"  If  you  had  a  friend  who  loved  you,  and  you  were  well,  would  you 
be  afraid  to  go  and  stay  with  him,  Willie?" 


THE   LESSONS   FROM    OLIVET. 


683 


"  Why  no,  I'd  like  to  go,  in  course." 

"  I  have  brought  you  a  message  from  a  Friend,  who  has  loved  you 
all  your  life-long.  He  wants  you  to  trust  him,  and  to  go  and  live  with 
him.     He  will  love  you  always,  and  you  will  always  be  happy." 

Then  the  lady  read  Tiny's  text, 


fiENi!,y  tNvV.-^n-. 


'  /^t^^^^f^_  -^^ag 


She  told  him  how  Jesus  had  died,  and  then  had  risen  agam,  and  had 
gone  to  heaven,  to  prepare  a  place  for  him,  and  for  many  other  children. 
She  told  him  how  Jesus  is  still  saying  "Come,"  and  his  hand  is  still  held 

out  to  bless.  ,  r    -J 

So  Willie  turned  to  the  Good  Shepherd,  and  was  no  longer  afraid. 


684  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

A  few  days  afterwards  he  whispered — "  Lord  Jesus,  I  am  coming ;  "  and 
he  died  with  Tiny's  text  in  his  hand. 

That  little  girl  used  the  talent  that  was  given  her,  and  it  helped  to 
bring  a  soul  to  Jesus. 

EVERY   TALENT   USEFUL. 

"Though  little  I  bring, 

Said  the  tiny  spring, 
As  it  burst  from  the  mighty  hill, 

'Tis  pleasant  to  know, 

Wherever  I  flow, 
The  pastures  are  greener  still. 

And  the  drops  of  rain 

As  they  fall  on  the  plain. 
When  parched  by  the  summer  heat. 

Refresh  the  sweet  flowers 

Which  droop  in  the  bowers, 
And  hang  down  their  heads  at  our  feet. 

May  we  strive  to  fulfill 

All  His  righteous  will, 
Who  formed  the  whole  earth  by  His  word ! 

Creator   Divine  ! 

We  would  ever  be  Thine, 
And  serve  Thee — our  God,  and  our  Lord!" 

Let  us  never  forget  this  third  lesson  from  Olivet,  the  lesson  about, — 
the  talents. 

The  fourth,  and  last  lesson  from   Olivet  is  the   lesson   about — the 

REWARDS. 

The  parable  tells  us,  that  when  the  Master  came  back,  and  reckoned 
with  his  servants,  he  said  to  each  of  those  who  had  made  a  right  use  of 
his  talents  : — "  Well  done,  good,  and  faithful  servant,  thou  hast  been  faith- 
ful over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things ;  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord."     In  the  parable  in  St.  Luke  we  are   told 


THE    LESSONS    FROM    OLIl'ET.  685 

that  the  servant,  who  had  gained  ten  pounds,  was  made  ruler  over  ten 
cities ;  and  he  who  had  gained  five  pounds,  was  made  ruler  over  five 
cities.  This  shows  us,  that  God  will  reward  his  people,  hereafter,  accord- 
ing to  the  degree  of  faithfulness,  with  which  each  one  shall  have  used  the 
talents  given  to  him.  And  this  is  the  lesson  which  the  apostle  Paul 
teaches  us,  when  he  says  that,  "  Every  man  shall  receive  /lis  own  reward 
according  to  his  own  labor"     i  Gor.  iii :  8. 

All  the  willing,  loving  servants  of  God  will  receive  a  crown  of  life, 
when  Jesus  comes  to  reckon  with  them.  But  those  crow  ns  will  not  be 
all  alike.  They  are  spoken  of  as  "  crowns  of  gold;"  Rev.  iv  :  4;  as 
"crowns  of  glory:"  i  Pet.  v:  4,  and  as  "crowns  of  life:"  Rev.  iii:  11. 
But  still  there  will  be  very  great  differences  between  these  crowns. 
Some  will  be  simply  crowns  of  gold,  or  of  glory,  without  any  gems,  or 
jewels  to  ornament  them.  Some  will  have  two  or  three  small  jewels 
shining  in  them.  But,  others  again  will  be  full  of  the  most  beautiful 
jewels,  all  glittering  and  sparkling  with  glory.  And  this  will  all  depend 
upon  the  way  in  which  those  who  wear  these  crowns,  used  their  talents 
while  they  were  on  earth,  and  the  amount  of  work  they  did  for  Jesus. 
There  is  an  incident  mentioned  in  Roman  history  about  a  soldier,  which 
illustrates  this  part  of  our  subject  very  well. 

The  Faithful  Soldier  and  his  Rewards.  This  man  had  served  forty 
years  in  the  cause  of  his  country — of  these,  ten  years  had  been  spent  as  a 
private  soldier,  and  thirty  as  an  officer.  He  had  been  present  in  one 
hundred  and  twenty  battles,  and  had  been  severely  wounded  forty-five 
times.  He  had  received  fourteen  civic  crowns,  for  having  saved  the  lives 
of  so  many  Roman  citizens;  three  mural  crowns,  for  having  been  the  first 
to  mount  the  breach,  when  attacking  a  fortress ;  and  eight  golden  crowns, 
for  having,  on  so  many  occasions,  rescued  the  standard  of  a  Roman 
legion,  from  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  He  had  in  his  house  eighty-three 
gold  chains,  sixty  bracelets,  eighteen  golden  spears,  and  twenty-three 
horse  trappings, — the  rewards  for  his  many  faithful  services  as  a  soldier. 
And  when  his  friends  looked  at  all  those  honors,  and  treasures,  which  he 
had  received,  from  time  to  time,  how  well  they  might  have  said  as  they 
pointed  to  those  numerous  prizes— that  he  had  "  received  his  own  reward, 
according  to  his  own  labor,"  and  faithfulness !     And  so  it  will  be  with  the 


686 


THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


soldiers  of  the  cross,  who  are  faithful  in  using  the  talents  given  them  by 
their  heavenly  Master. 

A  Great  Harvest  from  a  Little  Seed.  Some  years  ago  there  was  a 
celebrated  artist  in  Paris  whose  name  was  Ary  Scheffer.  On  one  occa- 
sion, he  wished  to  introduce  a  beggar  into  a  certain  picture  he  was 
painting.  Baron  Rothschild,  the  famous  banker,  and  one  of  the  richest 
men  in  the  world,  was  a  particular  friend  of  this  artist.  He  happened  to 
come  into  his  studio,  at  the  very  time  when  he  was  trying  to  get  a  beggar 
to  be  the  model,  of  one  which  he  desired  to  put  into  his  painting. 


Lower  pool  of  Gihon,  near  the  tomb  of  David,  Jerusalem. 


"Wait  till  to-morrow,"  said  Mr.  Rothschild,  "and  I  will  dress  myself 
up  as  a  beggar,  and  make  you  an  excellent  model." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  artist,  who  was  pleased  with  the  strangeness  of 
the  proposal.  The  next  day  the  rich  banker  appeared,  dressed  up  as  a 
beggar,  and  a  very  sorry  looking  beggar  he  was.  While  the  artist  was 
engaged  in  painting  him,  another  friend  of  his  came  into  the  studio.  He 
was  a  kind-hearted,  generous  man.  As  he  looked  on  the  .model  beggar 
he  was  touched  by  his  wretched  appearance,  and  as  he  passed  him,  he 
slipped  a  louis  d'or — a  French  gold  coin,  worth  about  five  dollars  of  oui 


THE    LESSONS   FROM    OLIJ'ET.  687 

money — -into  his  hand.     The  pretended  beggar  took  the  coin,  and  put  it 
in  his  pocket. 

Ten  years  after  this,  the  gentleman,  who  gave  this  piece  of  money, 
received  an  order  on  the  bank  of  the  Rothschilds  for  ten  thousand  francs. 
This  was  enclosed  in  a  letter  which  read  as  follows  :  "  Sir :  You  one  day 
gave  a  louis  d'or  to  Baron  Rothschild,  in  the  studio  of  Ary  Scheffer.  He 
has  invested  it,  and  made  good  use  of  it,  and  to-day  he  sends  you  the 
capital  you  entrusted  to  him,  together  with  the  interest  it  has  gained.  A 
good  action  is  always  followed  by  a  good  reward. 

James  De  Rothschild." 

In  those  few  years  that  one  gold  coin,  of  twenty  francs,  had  increased 
to  ten  thousand  francs.  And  this  illustrates  the  way  in  which  Jesus  the 
heavenly  Master,  rewards  those  who  use  their  talents  for  him.  See  how 
he  teaches  this  lesson,  when  he  says — "Whosoever  shall  give  to  drink, 
unto  one  of  these  little  ones,  a  cup  of  cold  water  only,  in  the  name  of  a 
disciple,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  shall  in  no  luise  lose  his  reward!'  St. 
Matth.  x:  42.  And  in  another  place  we  are  told  that  the  reward  shall  be 
"  an  hundred  fold,"  and  shall  run  on  into  "  everlasting  life."  St.  iviatth.  xix: 
29.     How  sweetly  some  one  has  thus  written  about 

THE  REWARD  OF  HEAVEN. 

"  Light  after  darkness,  gain  after  loss, 
Strength  after  weariness,  crown  after  cross; 
Sweet  after  bitter,  song  after  sigh, 
Home  after  wandering,  praise  after  cry ; 
Sheaves  after  sowing,  sun  after  rain, 
Light  after  mystery,  peace  after  pain ; 
Joy  after  sorrow,  calm  after  blast, 
Rest  afler  weariness,  sweet  rest  at  last; 
Near  after  distant,  gleam  after  gloom, 
Love  after  loneliness,  life  after  tomb. 
After  long  agony,  rapture  of  bliss, 
Christ  is  the  pathway  leading  to  this  !" 


688 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


The  last  lesson  from  Olivet  is  the  lesson  about  the  rewards.  And 
taking  these  lessons  together,  let  us  remember  that  they  are — the  lesson 
about  the  Master :  \\\t  \^sso\\  about  the  servants :  the  lesson  about  the  tal- 
ents :  and  the  lesson  about  the  rewards. 

The  Collect  for  the  thirteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity  is  a  very  suitable 
prayer  to  offer  after  meditating  on  the  lessons  from  Olivet: — 

"Almighty  and  merciful  God,  of  whose  only  gift  it  cometh  that  thy 
faithful  people  do  unto  thee  true  and  laudable  service :  Grant,  we  be- 
seech thee,  that  we  may  so  faithfully  serve  thee  in  this  life,  that  we  fail 
not  finally  to  attain  thy  heavenly  promises ;  which  exceed  all  that  we  can 
desire;  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen  I 


THE    LORD'S    SUPPER. 


■  W/K  are  approaching'  now  the  end  of  our  Saviour's 
life.  The  last  week  has  come,  and  we  are  in 
the  midst  of  it.  This  is  called  Passion  week. 
We  commonly  use  this  word  passion  to  denote 
anger.  But  the  first  and  true  meaning  of  the 
word,  and  of  the  Latin  word  from  which  it 
comes,  is — suffering.  And  this  is  the  sense 
in  which  we  find  the  word  used  in  Acts  i :  3. 
There,  St.  Luke,  who  wrote  the  Acts,  is  speak- 
ing of  Christ's  appearing  to  the  Apostles,  after 
his  resurrection,  and  he  uses  this  language: 
"To  whom  he  showed  himself  alive,  after  his 
passion  ;"  or  after  his  suffering  an(^  death. 
In  the  midst  of  this  last  week — this  passion 
week — one  of  the  interesting  things  that  Jesus  did,  was  to  keep  the  Jewish 
Passover  for  the  last  time  with  his  disciples.     This  Passover  feast  had 

been  kept  by  the  Jews  every  year,  for  nearly  fifteen   hundred  years.     It 

689 


690  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

was  the  most  solemn  religious  service  they  had.  It  was  first  observed  by 
them,  in  the  night  on  which  their  nation  was  delivered  fi-om  the  bondage 
of  Egypt,  and  began  their  march  towards  the  promised  land  of  Canaan. 
We  read  about  the  establishment  of  this  solemn  service  in  Exodus  12th 
chapter. 

The  first  Passover  took  place  on  the  14th  day  of  the  month  Nisan. 
This  had  been  the  seventh  month  of  the  year  with  the  Jews.  But  God 
directed  them  to  take  it  for  their  first  month  ever  afterwards.  They  were 
to  begin  their  year  with  that  month.  Every  family  was  to  choose  out  a 
lamb  for  themselves,  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  month.  They  were  to  keep 
it  to  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month.  On  the  evening  of  that  day,  they 
were  to  kill  the  lamb.  The  blood  of  the  lamb  was  to  be  sprinkled  on  the 
two  side-posts,  and  upper  lintels  of  every  door.  They  were  to  roast  the 
lamb,  and  eat  it,  with  solemn  religious  services.  And,  while  they  were 
doing  this,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  was  to  pass  over  all  the  land  of  Egypt, 
and,  with  his  unseen  sword,  to  smite,  and  kill  the  first-born,  or  oldest 
child,  in  every  family,  from  Pharaoh  on  his  throne,  to  the  poorest  beggar 
in  the  land.  But  the  blood,  sprinkled  on  the  door-posts  of  the  houses  in 
which  the  Israelites  dwelt,  was  to  save  them  from  the  stroke  of  the  angel 
of  death,  as  he  passed  over  the  land.  And  so  it  came  to  pass.  The  sol- 
emn hour  of  midnight  arrived.  The  angel  went  on  his  way.  He  gave 
one  stroke  with  his  dreadful  sword — and  there  was  a  death  in  every 
Egyptian  family.  But  in  the  blood-sprinkled  dwellings  of  the  Israelites, 
there  was  not  one  dead.  What  a  wonderful  night  that  was  I  Nothing 
like  it  was  ever  known  in  the  history  of  our  world.  It  is  not  surprising  that 
the  children  of  Israel,  through  all  their  generations,  should  have  kept  that 
Passover  feast  with  great  interest — an  interest  that  never  died  out,  from 
age  to  age.  Nor  do  we  wonder  that  our  blessed  Saviour  looked  forward 
longingly  to  the  occasion  when,  for  the  last  time,  he  was  to  celebrate  this 
Passover  with  his  disciples.  As  they  began  the  feast  he  said  to  them, 
"  With  desire  I  have  desired  "  that  is,  I  have  earnestly,  or  heartily  desired 
"to  eat  this  passover  with  you  before  I  suffer,"  St.  Luke,  xxii:  15.  It  is 
easy  to  think  of  many  reasons  why  Jesus  should  have  felt  this  strong  de- 
sire. Without  attempting  to  tell  what  all  those  reasons  were,  we  can 
readily  think  of  some  things,  which  would  lead  him,  very  naturally,  to 


THE    LORD'S    SUPPER.  691 

have  this  feeling.  It  was  the  last  time  he  was  to  eat  this  passover  with 
them  on  earth.  This  showed  that  his  public  work,  for  which  he  came  into 
the  world,  was  done.  He  had  only  now  to  suffer,  and  die ;  to  rise  from 
the  dead,  and  then  go  home  to  his  Father  in  heaven. 

This  passover  had  been  one  of  the  services  established,  and  kept  for 
the  purpose  of  pointing  the  attention  of  men  to  himself  as  the  Lamb  of 
God  who  was  to  take  away  the  sins  of  the  world.  And  now,  the  time 
had  come  when  all  that  had  thus  been  pointed  out  concerning  him,  for  so 
many  hundred  years,  was  about  to  be  fulfilled.  He,  the  one  true  lamb  of 
God,  had  come.  He  was  about  to  die  for  the  sins  of  the  world.  Then 
the  Jewish  church  would  pass  away,  and  the  Christian  church  would  take 
its  place.  And  then  the  blessings  of  true  religion,  instead  of  being  con- 
fined to  one  single  nation,  would  be  freely  offered  to  all  nations ;  and 
Jews  and  Gentiles  alike,  would  be  at  liberty  to  come  to  Christ,  and  to  re- 
ceive from  him  pardon,  and  grace,  and  salvation,  and  every  blessing. 

There  was  enough,  in  thoughts  like  these,  to  make  Jesus  long  to  eat 
this  last  passover  with  his  disciples.  In  each  of  the  four  gospels  we  have 
an  account  of  what  took  place  when  the  time  came  for  keeping  this 
passov.er.  What  is  said  concerning  it  we  find  in  the  following  places : 
St.  Math,  xxi :  17-30,  St.  Mark  xiv:  12-26,  St.  Luke  22:  7-39.  St.  John 
begins  with  the  13th  chapter,  and  ends  his  accountat  the  close  of  the  17th 
chapter.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the  four  evangelists  who  gives  a  full,  and 
particular  account  of  the  wonderful  sayings  of  our  Lord,  in  connection  with 
this  last  passover,  and  of  the  great  prayer  that  he  offered  for  all  his  people. 

Here  is  a  brief  outline  of  these  different  accounts.  When  the  time 
came  to  keep  the  passover,  Jesus  sent  two  of  his  disciples,  from  Bethany, 
where  he  was  then  staying,  to  Jerusalem.  He  told  them,  that,  when  they 
entered  the  city,  they  would  meet  a  man  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water.  '  They 
were  to  ask  him  to  show  them  the  guest-chamber,  where  he  and  his  disci- 
ples might  eat  the  passover  together.  There  were  always  great  crowds  of 
strangers  in  Jerusalem  at  the  time  of  this  festival ;  and  many  furnished 
chambers  were  kept  ready  to  be  hired  to  those  who  wished  them,  for  cele- 
brating the  Passover.  This  man,  of  whom  our  Saviour  spoke,  was  proba- 
bly a  friend  of  his,  and  according  to  our  Lord's  word,  he  showed  the  dis- 
ciples  such   a   room  as  they  needed.     Then   they  made  the    necessary 


692  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

preparations ;  and,  when  the  evening  came,  Jesus   and  his  disciples  met 
there  to  keep  this  solemn  feast. 

Many  of  the  pictures  that  we  see  of  this  last  Supper,  represent  the 
company  as  seated  round  a  table,  very  much  in  the  way  in  which  we  are 
accustomed  to  sit  ourselves.  But  this  is  not  correct.  The  people,  in 
those  Eastern  countries,  were  not  accustomed  to  sit  as  we  do.  On  this 
occasion  the  roasted  lamb,  with  the  bread  and  wine  to  be  used  at  the  feast, 
was  placed  on  a  table,  and  the  guests  reclined  on  couches  round  the  table, 
each  man  leaning  on  his  left  arm,  and  helping  himself  to  what  he  needed 
with  his  right  hand. 

Various  incidents  took  place  in  connection  with  this  last  supper.  The 
disciples  had  a  contest  among  themselves  about  which  of  them  should  be 
greatest.  This  led  Jesus,  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  to  give  them  the 
lesson  of  humility,  by  washing  his  disciples'  feet,  of  which  we  have  already 
spoken.  Then  he  told  them  how  sorrowfully  he  was  feeling.  He  said  they 
would  all  forsake  him,  and  one  of  them  would  betray  him  that  very  night. 
This  made  them  feel  -very  sad.  Each  of  them  suspected  himself — and 
asked  sorrowfully — "  Lord,  is  it  I  ?"  They  did  not  suspect  each  other ; 
and  none  of  them  seems  to  have  suspected  Judas  Iscariot  at  all.  Then 
Peter  whispered  to  John,  who  was  leaning  on  the  bosom  of  Jesus,  to  ask 
who  it  was  that  was  to  do  this  ?  In  answer  to  John's  question,  Jesus  said 
it  was  the  one  to  whom  he  should  give  a  piece  of  bread  when  he  had 
dipped  it  in  the  dish.     Then  he  dipped  the  sop  and  gave  it  to  Judas. 

After  this,  we  are  told,  that  Satan  entered  into  him,  and  he  went  out 
and  made  preparation  for  doing  the  most  dreadful  thing  that  ever  was 
done,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world — and  that  was  the  betrayal  of  his 
great,  and  good,  and  holy  master,  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  When 
Judas  was  gone,  and  before  the  Passover  feast  was  finished,  making  use 
of  some  of  the  materials  before  him,  Jesus  established  one  of  the  two  great 
sacraments  to  be  observed  in  his  church  to  the  end  of  the  world — the  sac- 
rament of  the  Lord's  Supper — or  the  holy  Communion. 

This  is  St.  Luke's  account  of  the  way  in  which  it  was  done,  chapter 
xxii :  19,  20 — "And  he  took  bread,  and  gave  thanks,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
unto  tnem,  saying.  This  is  my  body  which  is  given  for  you :  this  do  in 
remembrance  of  me.     Likewise  also   the   cup  after  supper,  saying.     This 


THE   LORD'S    SUPPER. 


693 


cup   is  the   New  Testament  in   my  blood,  which  is  shed  for  you."     St. 
Matthew  adds,  and — "  for  many." 

Such  is  the  account  we  have  of  the  first  establishment  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.  It  was  to  take  the  place  of  the  Jewish  Passover,  and  to  be  ob- 
served by  the  followers  of  Christ  all  over  the  earth,  until  the  time  when  he 


shall  come  again  into  our  world. 


The  wonderful  deliverance  of  their  forefathers  from  the  bitter  bondage. 


And  this  solemn  sacrament— this  holy  communion— this  Supper  of 
our  Lord,  ought  to  be  obser\^ed,  or  kept,  by  all  who  love  him  for  three 
reasons  :  these  are  its  connection  with  the  word  of  his  command— the  mem- 
ory of  his  sufferings— and  the  hope  of  his  glory. 


694  THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

Jesus  connected  this  sacrament  with  the  word  of  His  command  when 
he  said — "  This  do,  in  remembrance  of  me."  St.  Luke  xxii :  19.  This  is 
the  command  o{  Christ.  It  is  a  plain,  positive  command.  Jesus  did  not 
give  this  command  to  the  apostles  only,  or  to  his  ministers,  or  to  any  par- 
ticular class  of  his  followers,  but  to  all  of  them.  It  was  given  first  to  his 
apostles,  but  it  was  not  intended  to  be  confined  to  them.  Jesus  does  not 
say — -"  This  do,"  ye  who  are  my  apostles ;  or,  ye  who  are  my  ministers. 
He  does  not  say — "This  do,"  ye  old  men,  or  ye  rich  men,  or  ye  great  men  ; 
but  simply,  "  This  do."  And  the  meaning  of  what  he  here  says,  is — "This 
do,"  all  ye  who  profess  to  be  my  followers,  all  over  the  world,  and  through 
all  ages.  And  the  words  that  he  spake  on  another  occasion  come  in  very 
well  here :  "  If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  commandments."  And  fhis  is  one 
of  the  commandments  that  he  expects  all  his  people  to  keep.  He  points 
to  this  holy  sacrament,  which  he  has  ordained  in  his  church,  and  then  to 
each  one  of  his  people  he  says — "  This  do."  No  matter  whether  we  wish 
to  do  it  or  not ;  here  are  our  master's  words — "  This  do."  No  matter 
whether  we  see  the  use  of  it,  or  not ;  Jesus  says—"  This  do."  It  is  enough 
for  each  follower  of  Jesus  to  say,  "  here  is  my  Lord's  command  ;  I  mi/sf 
obey  it." 

In  an  army,  if  the  general  issues  an  order,  it  is  expected  that  every 
soldier  will  obey  it.  And  no  matter  how  important,  or  useful,  in  itself 
considered,  any  work  may  be,  that  is  done  by  one  of  those  soldiers,  yet, 
if  it  be  done  while  he  is  neglecting  the  general's  order,  instead  of  gaining 
for  that  soldier  the  praise  of  the  general,  or  of  securing  a  reward  from  him, 
it  will  only  excite  his  displeasure  : — he  will  order  that  soldier  to  be  pun- 
ished. 

But  the  church  of  Christ  is  compared  in  the  Bible  to  an  army.  He 
is  the  Captain  or  Leader  of  this  army.  And  one  of  the  most  important 
orders  he  has  issued  for  his  soldiers  is — "  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me." 
If  we  profess  to  be  the  soldiers  of  Christ,  and  are  enlisted  in  his  army,  and 
yet  are  neglecting  this  order,  he  never  can  be  pleased  with  anything  we 
may  do,  while  this  order  is  neglected.  We  seem  to  see  him  pointing  to 
this  neglected  order,  and  saying  to  each  of  us,  as  he  said  to  Saul,  the  first 
king  of  Israel,  by  the  prophet  Samuel : — "  Behold,  to  obey  is  better  than 
sacrifice :  and  to  hearken,  than  the  fat  of  rams."    i  Sam.  xv :  22. 


THE    LORD'S    SUPPER. 


695 


No  age  is  fixed  in  the  New  Testament  at  which  young  people  may- 
be allowed  to  come  to  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  But,  as  soon 
as  they  have  learned  to  know,  and  love  Christ,  and  are  really  trying  to 
serve  him,  they  ought  to  be  allowed  to  come.  And  yet  ministers  and  pa- 
rents sometimes  keep  them  back,  and  tell  them  they  nmst  wait,  and  be 
tried  a  little  longer,  before  they  receive  the  help  and  comfort  of  this  ordi- 
nance of  Christ,  even  when  their  conduct  shows  that  they  are  sincerely 
trying  to  love  and  serve  the  blessed  Saviour. 

If  a  farmer  should  send  his  servant  out  into  the  field,  when  winter 
was  approaching,  telling  him  to  put  the  sheep  into  the  fold,  that  they 
might  be  protected  from  the  wolves,  and  from  the  cold,  it  would  be 
thought  a  strange  thing,  if  he  should  allow  him  to  bring  the  sheep  into 
the  shelter  of  the  fold,  and  leave  the  little  lambs  outside.  This  is  a  good 
illustration  to  show  the  importance  of  taking  care  of  the  lambs.  But  it 
fails  at  one  point  The  shelter  of  the  fold  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
protection  of  the  farmer's  lambs.  They  could  not  live  without  it.  If  left 
outside  of  the  fold  they  would  certainly  perish.  But  there  is  not  the  same 
necessity  for  admitting  young  people  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  They  are 
not  left  out  in  the  cold,  like  the  lambs  in  the  field,  even  when  not  admit- 
ted to  this  holy  ordinance.  They  are  already  under  the  care  and  protec- 
tion of  the  good  Shepherd.  He  can  guard  them,  and  keep  them,  and 
cause  them  to  grow  in  grace,  even  though,  for  awhile,  they  do  not  have 
the  help  and  comfort  of  this  sacrament.  And,  if  they  are  kept  back 
through  the  fault,  or  mistake  of  others,  he  will  do  so.  This  sacrament, 
like  that  of  baptism,  is,  as  the  catechism  says,  '' gencnilly  necessary  to  sal- 
vation." This  means  that  it  is  important  "  where  it  may  be  had."  But, 
if  circumstances  beyond  our  control,  should  prevent  us  from  partaking  of 
it,  we  may  be  saved  without  it.  Still,  I  think  that  young  people,  who  give 
satisfactory  evidence  that  they  know  and  love  the  Saviour,  and  are  trying 
to  serve  him,  ought  to  be  allowed  to  come  forward  to  this  holy  sacrament. 

Some  people  when  urged  to  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper  excuse  them- 
selves, by  saying  that — "  they  are  not  prepared  to  come." 

But  this  will  not  release  any  one  from  the  command  of  Christ — "This 
do." 

What  the  preparation  is  that  we  need   in  order  that  we  may  come,  in 


696  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

a  proper  way,  to  this  holy  sacrament,  is  clearly  pointed  out  in  the  exhor- 
tation that  occurs  in  the  communion  service  of  our  church.  Here  the 
minister  says — "  Ye  who  do  truly  and  earnestly  repent  of  your  sins,  and 
are  in  love  and  charity  with  your  neighbors,  and  intend  to  lead  a  new  life, 
following  the  commandments  of  God,  and  walking  from  henceforth  in  his 
holy  ways :  draw  near  with  faith,  and  take  this  holy  sacrament  to  your 
comfort."  And  there  is  no  excuse  for  persons  not  being  in  the  state  these 
words  describe:  for  this  is  just  what  God's  word,  and  our  own  duty  and 
interest  require  of  us.  If  we  have  not  yet  done  what  these  words  require, 
we  ought  to  do  it  at  once ;  and  then,  there  will  be  nothing  in  the  way  of 
our  obeying  the  command  of  Christ,  when  he  says — "  This  do,  in  remem- 
brance of  me."  By  all  the  authority  which  belongs  to  him  our  Saviour 
commands  us  to  keep  this  holy  feast.  And  the  first  reason- why  we  ought 
to  "do  this,"  is  because  of  its  connection  with  the  word  of  his  command. 

The  second  reason  why  we  ought  to  "  do  this  " — is  because  of  its  con- 
nection with  the  memory  of  Ids  siiffcrings. 

We  are  taught  this  by  the  word  remembrance,  which  our  Saviour  here 
uses.  He  says,  "This  do  in  remembrance  of  me."  This  means  in  re- 
membrance of  my  sufferings  for  you.  And  tliis  is  the  most  important 
word  used  by  him  when  he  established  this  sacrament.  It  is  the  govern- 
ing word  in  the  whole  service.  It  is  the  word  by  which  we  must  be  guid- 
ed in  trying  to  understand  what  our  Lord  meant  to  teach  us  by  all  he  did, 
and  said,  on  this  occasion. 

You  know  liow  it  is  when  we  are  trying  to  understand  the  music  to 
which  a  particular  tune  has  been  set.  There  is  always  one  special  note 
in  a  tune,  which  is  called  the  /ccy-note.  The  leader  of  a  choir,  when  they 
are  going  to  sing,  will  strike  one  of  the  keys  of  the  organ,  or  the  melo- 
deon  they  are  using,  so  as  to  give  to  each  member  of  the  choir,  the  proper 
key-note,  of  the  piece  of  music  they  are  to  sing.  It  is  very  important  for 
them  to  have  this  key-note,  because  they  cannot  have  a  proper  under- 
standing of  what  they  are  to  do  without  it.  This  holy  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  is  like  a  solemn  song.  And  the  key-note  of  the  music  to 
which  the  song  is  set  is  this  word — remembrance.  It  teaches  us  that  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  a  memorial  service.  And,  in  going 
through  the  music  to  which  the  song  of  this  service  has  been  set,  every 


THE   LORD'S    SUPPER. 


697 


\ 


note  that  we  use  must  be  a  memorial  note.  And  the  language  used  by 
our  blessed  Lord  when  he  established  this  Supper,  or  sacrament,  must  be 
explained  in  this  way.  When  he  oroke  the  bread,  and  gave  it  to  his  dis- 
ciples, saying — "This  is  my  body,  which  is  given  for  you:  this  do  in  re- 
membrance of  me,"  he  meant  that  we  should  understand  him  as  saying — 
"  This  is  the  inemorial  of  my  body."  And  when  he  gave  them  the  cup, 
and  said — "  This  is  my  blood  of  the  New  Testament,"  he  meant  that  we 


^^\^\^c^'*^^^'' , 


Vallej   „f  J^hob.ipluit  from  Siloam. 


sho'uld  understand  him  as  saying — "  This  is  the  memorial  of  my  blood." 
And  we  are  sure  that  this  was  the  meaning  for  two  reasons. 

One  reason  for  believing  this,  is  that  this  was  the  way  in  which  simi- 
lar words  had  been  used  in  the  Jewish  Passover,  which  yesus  and  his  dis- 
ciples were  then  keeping. 

In  the  Passover  service,  when  the  head  of  the  family  distributed  the 
bread,  he  always  said — "  This  is  the  bread  of  affliction."  When  he  distrib- 


698  THE     LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

uted  the  flesh  of  the  lamb,  roasted  for  the  occasion,  he  used  to  say — "  This 
is  the  body  of  the  Passover." 

But  every  one  knows,  and  every  one  admits,  that  the  Jewish  Passover 
was  a  memorial  service.  It  was  kept  in  memory  of  the  wonderful  deliv- 
erance of  their  forefathers  from  the  bitter  bondage  of  Egypt.  And  the 
words  used  at  that  service  were  memorial  words.  And  so,  when  Jesus,  a 
little  while  before,  had  given  to  his  disciples  the  Passover  bread,  saying — 
"  This  is  the  bread  of  affliction :"  he  did  not  mean  to  say  that  that  was  the 
very  same  bread  which  their  forefathers  had  eaten,  in  the  time  of  their 
affliction  in  Egypt.  What  he  meant  to  say  was — this  is  the  bread  which 
you  are  to  eat  in  memory  of  your  forefathers'  trial  and  deliverance.  And 
when  he  gave  to  each  of  them  a  piece  of  the  sacrificial  lamb,  saying,  "  This 
is  the  body  of  the  Passover ;"  he  did  not  mean  that  in  any  mysterious,  or 
supernatural  sense,  that  was  the  very  lamb  of  which  their  forefathers  had 
eaten  on  the  solemn  night  of  the  Passover ;  he  only  meant  that  it  was  the 
body  of  which  they  were  to  eat  in  memory  of  the  Passover.  The  Pass- 
over was  a  memorial  service ;  and  the  words  used  at  the  Passover  were 
memorial  words. 

And  so,  when  Jesus  went  on,  from  the  last  Passover  of  the  Jewish 
church,  to  the  first  sacramental  feast  of  the  Christian  church,  and  began  by 
saying,  "  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me,"  what  else  could  the  apostles  pos- 
sibly have  thought,  but  that  he  intended  this  new  service  of  the  Christian 
church  to  be  a  memorial  service,  just  as  the  old  festival  of  the  Jewish 
church  had  been  ?  When  he  gave  them  the  broken  bread,  and  said, 
"This  is  my  body ;"  they  could  only  have  understood  him  as  meaning 
this  is  the  memorial  of  my  body.  And  when  he  gave  them  the  cup  into 
which  he  had  just  poured  the  wine,  and  said  :  "  This  is  my  blood  ;"  they 
could  only  understand  him  as  meaning  this  is  the  memorial  of  my 
blood.  And  so,  the  sense  in  which  he  had  just  before  used  the  words 
employed  in  the  Jewish  festival,  must  have  led  the  disciples  to  understand 
them  in  the  same  way  when  he  used  similar  words  in  the  Christian  sacra- 
ment. This  is  a  good,  strong  reason  for  thinking  of  this  sacramental 
feast  as  a  memorial  service. 

There  is  indeed,  one  point  of  difference  between  the  Jewish  Passover 
and  the  Christian  sacrament,  when  we  think  of  them  as  memorial  services. 


THE    LORD'S    SUPPER.  699 

The  Jews  kept  their  solemn  festival  in  memory  of  a  dead  lamb — the  Pass- 
over lamb  that  was  put  to  death  for  them,  but  never  came  to  life  again. 
We  keep  our  Christian  sacrament  in  memory  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  who 
died  for  us  indeed,  but  who  rose  from  the  dead,  and  is  alive  forevermore. 
As  we  keep  this  solemn  festival,  we  may  lift  up  our  adoring  hearts  to  him, 
and  say  for  ourselves  personally, 

"  O,  the  Lamb !  the  loving  Lamb ! 
The  Lamb  of  Calvary ! 
The  Lamb  that  was  slain,  but  liveth  again. 

And  intercedes  for  me!" 

And  though  they  are  both  memorial  services,  yet  this  one  thought 
makes  a  world-wide  difference  between  them.  The  bread  and  meat  which 
the  pious  Jew  ate,  when  he  kept  the  Passover,  and  the  wine  which  he 
drank  on  that  occasion,  would  strengthen  his  body,  but  there  was  nothing 
connected  with  those  material  substances  that  would  do  any  special  good 
to  his  soul.  It  is  different,  however,  with  our  Christian  festival  of  the 
Lord's  Supper.  And  this  difference  is  clearly  brought  out  in  what  we 
find  in  the  catechism  of  our  church  on  this  subject.  In  speaking  of  this 
holy  sacrament,  the  question  is  asked — "  What  are  the  benefits  whereof 
we  are  partakers  thereby  ?"  And  the  answer  to  this  question  is — "  The 
strengthening  and  refreshing  of  our  souls,  by  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ, 
as  our  bodies  are  by  the  bread  and  wine." 

Here  we  see  that  while  the  Lord's  Supper  is  a  memorial  service  in- 
deed, it  is  at  the  same  time  something  much  more  than  that. 

And  then,  the  actual  bodily  presence  of  Christ  with  them,  ninst  have 
compelled  the  apostles  to  understand  the  words  he  used  on  that  occasion,  in 
this  memorial  sense. 

They  could  not  possibly  have  considered  him  as  meaning  that  the 
bread  and  wine,  which  he  gave  them  at  that  solemn  service,  did,  in  any 
mysterious,  and  supernatural  way,  become  his  actual  flesh  and  blood  ;  be- 
cause, these  were  already  before  them,  in  the  form  of  his  own  body.  And 
they  could  not  be  in  his  body,  and  in  the  bread  and  wine,  at  the  same 
time.  The  sense  in  which  Jesus  first  used  these  words — "  my  body,"  and 
"  my  blood,"  was  clearly  the  memorial  sense.     He  meant  his  disciples  to 


700  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

understand  him  as  saying  "  Take  this  bread  in  remembrance  of  my  body, 
which  is  to  be  crucified  for  you  ;"  and  "  Take  this  wine  in  remembrance  of 
my  blood  which  is  to  be  shed  for  you." 

This  was  what  he  taught  the  apostles,  when  he  first  used  these  words 
among  them ;  and  this  was  all  he  taught  them ;  and  we  have  no  right  to 
use  these  words  in  any  other  sense,  till  our  blessed  Lord  himself,  shall 
give  us  authority  to  do  so. 

Let  us  never  forget  the  word — remembrance,  as  used  by  our  Saviour 
here.  It  is  the  root  out  of  which  the  whole  tree  of  this  solemn  service 
grows.  Let  us  hold  on  to  this  root  word,  and  it  will  save  us  from  the 
errors  into  which  many  have  fallen,  in  reference  to  this  subject. 

And,  surely,  there  is  nothing  so  precious  for  us  to  store  away  in  our 
memories  as  the  thought  of  Christ,  in  the  amazing  sufferings  he  once  bore 
for  us,  in  the  great  work  he  is  now  doing  for  us,  and  in  the  saving  truth 
he  embodies  in  his  own  glorious  character. 

The  story  is  told  of  Alexander  the  Great,  that  when  he  conquered 
king  Darius  he  found  among  his  treasures  a  very  valuable  box  or  cabinet. 
It  was  made  of  gold  and  silver,  and  inlaid  with  precious  jewels.  After 
thinking  for  awhile  what  to  do  with  it,  he  finally  concluded  to  use  it  as  his 
choicest  treasury,  or  cabinet  in  which  to  keep  the  books  of  the  poet 
Homer,  which  he  was  very  fond  of  reading.  Now,  if  we  use  our  memory 
aright,  it  will  be  to  us  a  treasury,  far  more  valuable  than  that  jewelled  box 
of  the  great  conqueror.  And  the  thought  of  Christ,  not  in  his  sufferings 
only,  but  in  his  work,  and  in  his  character,  is  the  most  precious  thing  to 
lay  up  in  our  memory.  And  if  we  keep  this  remembrance  continually  be- 
fore us,  it  will  be  the  greatest  help  we  can  have  in  trying  to  love  and  serve 
him  better. 

Here  is  an  illustration  of  what  I  mean  in  a  touching  story.  We  may 
call  it 

Love  stronger  than  Death.  Some  years  ago,  there  was  a  great  fire  in 
one  of  our  Western  cities,  that  stood  in  the  midst  of  a  prairie.  A  mother 
escaped  from  her  burning  dwelling.  Her  husband  was  away  from  home. 
She  took  her  infant  in  her  arms,  and  wrapped  a  heavy  shawl  round  her- 
self and  the  baby.  Her  little  girl  clung  to  the  dress  of  her  mother,  and 
they  went  out  into  the  prairie,  to  get  away  from  the  flames  of  the  burning 


THE   LORD'S   SUPPER. 


701 


buildings.  It  was  a  wild  and  stormy  winter's  night,  and  intensely  cold. 
She  tried  to  run  ;  but  burdened  as  she  was  that  was  impossible.  Presently 
she  found  that  the  tall  dry  grass  of  the  prairie  had  caught  fire.  It  was 
spreading  on  every  side.  A  great  circle  of  flame  was  gathering  round  her. 
A  little  way  off  she  saw  a  clump  of  trees  on  a  piece  of  rising  ground. 
Towards  that  spot  she  directed  her  steps,  and  strained  every  nerve  to 
reach  it.     At  last  she  succeeded  in  doing  so. 


He  said,  "  Hear  me." 


For  a  moment  the  poor  mother  and  her  child  were  comparatively  safe. 
But,  on  looking  around,  she  saw  that  the  flames  were  approaching  her 
from  opposite  directions.  Escape  was  impossible.  Death — a  terrible 
death  by  fire,  seemed  to  be  the  only  thing  before  her.  She  might  wrap 
herself  in  that  great  shawl,  and  perhaps  live  through  it.  But,  there  were 
the  children.     Of  course  a  mother  could  not  hesitate  a  moment  what  to  do 


702  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

under  such  circumstances.  Wrapping  the  baby  round  and  round  in  the 
folds  of  the  shawl,  she  laid  it  carefully  down,  at  the  foot  of  one  of  the  trees. 
Then,  taking  off  her  outer  clothing,  she  covered  the  other  child  with  it. 
She  laid  her  down  beside  the  baby,  and  then  stretched  herself  across  them. 
In  a  few  moments  the  helpless  little  ones  were  sound  asleep.  The  long 
hours  of  the  night  passed  on.  The  raging  flames  licked  up  the  withered 
foliage  about  that  clump  of  trees,  and  then  left  their  blackened  trunk's  to 
the  keenness  of  the  wind  and  frost. 

The  next  day  the  heart-broken  husband  and  father  returned  to  find 
his  home  burnt,  and  his  family,  gone — he  knew  not  whither.  He  set  out 
to  search  for  his  lost  treasures.  He  found  them  by  that  clump  of  trees. 
There  lay  his  wife — her  hair  and  eyebrows,  her  face  and  neck  scorched, 
and  blackened  by  the  fire — but  her  body  frozen  stiff.  Whether  she  per- 
ished by  the  flames,  or  the  frost  no  one  ever  knew.  But,  on  lifting  her 
burnt  form  they  found,  warm  and  cosy  beneath,  her  two  sleeping  children. 
The  elder  child  as  they  roused  her,  opened  her  eyes  exclaiming,  "  Mamma, 
is  it  morning  ?"  Yes :  it  was  morning  with  that  faithful  mother,  in  the 
bright  world  to  wliich  she  had  gone ! 

Now,  suppose  that  those  children,  as  they  grew  up,  should  have  had 
preserved  among  their  treasures,  a  piece  of  the  burnt  dress,  or  a  lock  of 
the  scorched  hair,  of  their  devoted  mother.  As  they  looked  at  it,  every 
day,  it  would  be  in  remembrance  of  her.  How  touchingly  it  would  tell  of 
her  great  love  for  them,  in  being  willing  to  lay  down  her  life  to  save 
theirs !  And  how  that  thought  would  thrill  their  hearts,  and  make  them 
anxious  to  do  all  they  could  to  show  their  respect  and  love  for  such  a 
mother! 

And  so  the  broken  bread,  and  the  poured  out  wine,  of  this  solemn 
sacrament  should  melt  our  hearts,  in  the  remembrance  of  the  wonderful 
love  of  Christ  to  us,  and  should  lead  us  to  show  our  love  to  him  by  keep- 
ing his  commandments. 

And  as  we  keep  this  solemn  memorial  service,  how  well  we  may  say, 
in  the  words  of  the  hymn  ; — 


THE    LORD'S    SUPPER. 


703 


"  According  to  thy  gracious  word, 

In  meek  humility,. 
This  will  we  do,  our  dying  Lord, 

We  will  remember  thee. 
Thy  body,   broken  for  our  sake, 

Our  bread  from  heaven  shall  be: 
Thy  sacramental  cup  we  take. 

And  thus  remember  thee. 


"  One  of  yon  will  betray  me." 


Can  we  Gethsemane  forget? 

Or  there  thy  conflict  see. 
Thine  agony  and  bloody  sweat, 

And  not  remember  thee  ? 
When  to  the  cross  we  turn  our  eye?. 

And  rest  on  Calvary, 
O  Lamb  of  God,  our  sacrifice, 

We  must  remember  thee." 


704  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

But  yesus  /las  connected  this  blessed  sacrament  with  the  hope  of  lus 
glory — as  well  as  with  the  word  of  his  command,  and  the  memory  of  his 
sufferings. 

He  made  this  connection  very  clear  when  he  said,  at  the  institution 
of  this  solemn  service — "  I  will  not  drink  henceforth  of  this  fruit  of  the 
vine,  until  that  day  when  I  drink  it  new  with  you  in  my  Father's  kingdom." 
St.  Matth.  xxvi :  29.  And  the  apostle  Paul  pointed  out  the  same  connec- 
tion, when  he  said,  "  As  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye 
do  shew  the  Lord's  death,  till  he  comer  i  Cor.  xi :  26.  This  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  is  the  point  of  meeting  between  the  sufferings  of  Christ 
and  the  glory  that  is  to  follow — between  his  cross,  with  all  its  "shame  and 
anguish,  and  his  kingdom  with  all  its  honor  and  blessedness. 

We  have  sometimes  heard,  or  read  of  magicians,  who  have  pretended 
to  have  wonderful  mirrors  into  which  persons  might  look,  and  see  all  that 
was  before  them  in  this  life.  If  there  were  such  a  mirror,  it  would  be  a 
strange  thing  indeed  to  look  into  it,  and  find  out  what  was  going  to  hap- 
pen to-morrow,  or  next  month,  or  next  year,  or  twenty  years  hence.  But, 
there  never  was  any  such  mirror.  As  the  apostle  says,  "  We  know  not 
what  shall  be  on  the  morrow."  No  mortal  man  can  tell  what  will  happen 
to  him  as  he  takes  the  very  next  step  in  life. 

Yet,  this  solemn  sacrament  is  like  such  a  magical  mirror.  We  can 
look  into  it,  and  see,  clearly  represented  there,  what  will  happen  to  us  in 
the  future,  not  of  this  life  indeed,  but  of  the  life  to  come.  It  leads  our 
minds  on  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb.  And  a  voice  from  heaven 
declares — "  Blessed  are  they  who  are  called  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the 
Lamb."  Rev.  xix :  9.  That  marriage  supper  represents  the  highest  joys 
of  heaven.  It  gathers  into  itself  all  the  glory  and  happiness  that  await 
us  in  the  heavenly  kingdom.  And  this  sacramental  service  is  the  type, 
or  shadow  of  all  the  bliss  connected  with  that  great  event  in  the  future. 
If  we  are  true  and  faithful  partakers  of  this  solemn  sacrament — this  memo- 
rial feast,  we  shall  certainly  be  among  the  number  of  those  whose  un- 
speakable privilege  it  will  be  to  sit  down  at  the  marriage  supper  of  the 
Lamb,  in  heaven.  There  we  shall  be  in  the  personal  presence  of  Jesus, 
our  glorified  Lord.  Our  eyes  "  shall  see  the  King  in  his  beauty."  And 
we  shall  see  all  his  people  too  in  the  perfection  of  glory  that  will  mark 


THE    LORD'S    SUPPER. 


707 


them  there.  And  in  happy  intercourse  with  that  blessed  company  we 
shall  find  all  "  the  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises  "  of  God's  word 
fulfilled  in  our  own  personal  experience. 

And  then  there  is  nothing  that  can  sustain  and  comfort  us,  under 
the  many  trials  of  this  mortal  life,  like  the  hope  of  sharing  this  joy 
with  our  blessed  Lord,  when  he  shall  come  in  the  glory  of  his  heavenly 
kingdom. 

T/ic  Hope  of  Glory. — A  Christian  gentleman  was  in  the  habit  of  vis- 
iting, from  time  to  time,  a  poor  afflicted  widow  woman,  who  lived  in  his 
neighborhood.     She  had   once  been  very  well  off,  and  was  the  wife  of  a 
well-known,  and  apparently  success- 
ful merchant.    But  finally  he  failed  in 
business,  and  died  soon  after,  leaving 
her  alone  in  the  world,  and  without 
anything    to    live    on,  but   what   she 
could  earn  by  her  own  labor. 

After  awhile  her  health  failed, 
and  then  she  was  entirely  dependent 
for  her  support  on  the  kindness  of 
her  Christian  friends.  But  she  was 
always  cheerful  and  happy.  "  On 
going  in  to  see  her  one  day,"  says 
this  gentleman,  "  I  found,  on  talking 
with  her,  that  she  was  feeling  very 
comfortable  in  her  mind. 

"  Tell  me,  my  friend,"  I  asked, 
"  have  you  always  felt  as  bright  and 
cheerful  as  you  seem  to  feel  now?" 

"  O,  no,"  she  replied,  "  very  far  from  it.  When  my  husband  died, 
and  I  was  left  alone  in  the  world,  I  used  to  feel  very  sad,  and  rebellious. 
Many  a  time  I  was  so  sorrowful,  and  despairing,  as  to  be  tempted  to  take 
away  my  own  life.  But,  in  the  good  providence  of  God,  I  was  led  to  read 
the  Bible,  and  to  pray  for  help  from  above.  I  became  a  member  of  the 
church.  But,  for  a  while,  I  did  not  find  much  comfort  in  my  religion. 
And  the  reason  of  it  was  that  I  did  not  have  very  clear  views  of  Christ  as 


The  Lord's  Supper  l^  like  a  bulenin  song. 


7o8 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


my  Saviour,  and  of  the  wonderful  things  he  has  promised  to  do  for  his 
people  in  the  future. 

But,  on  one  communion  occasion,  my  minister  preached  on  the  words 


Love   one  another. 

— '  CJiyistin  you  the  hope  of  g/ory.'  That  was  a  blessed  communion  to 
me.  I  saw  then,  as  I  had  never  seen  before,  how  that  sacred  and  solemn 
service  was  intended  by  him  to  be  to  all  his  people,  at  one  and  the  same 
time,  the  means  of  preserving  in  their  minds  the  remembrance  of  the  suf- 
ferings he  has  borne  for  them  in   the  past ;  and  also  of  keeping  alive  in 


THE  LORD'S    SUPPER.  yog 

their  hearts,  the  hope  of  sharing  in  the  glory  which  he  has  prepared  for 
them  in  the  future.  And  I  have  never  had  any  trouble  in  my  mind  since 
then.  My  communion  seasons  were  always  bright  and  blessed  seasons 
to  me,  as  long  as  I  was  able  to  go  to  church.  And  though  I  can  no 
longer  go  up  to  the  sanctuary  and  partake  of  the  bread  and  wine — '  the 
outward  and  visible  signs,'  made  use  of  in  the  heavenly  feast ;  yet,  blessed 
be  God's  holy  name,  I  can,  and  do  partake  in  a  spiritual  manner  of  that 
which  those  signs  represent.  I  feel  and  know  what  it  is  to  have  '  Christ 
in  me  the  hope  of  glory."  And  this  '  satisfies  my  longing,  as  nothing 
else  can  do.'  I  find  peace  and  comfort  in  simply  '  looking  unto  Jesus.' 
I  have  had  much  outward  trouble  and  affliction  since  then.  I  live  alone. 
There  is  no  one  here  to  help  me.  Sometimes  I  have  nothing  to  eat,  and 
■  but  little  to  keep  me  warm.  You  see  me  sif/wg  here  now.  Thus  I  have 
to  spend  my  nights.  My  complaint  is  the  dropsy,  and  this  prevents  me 
from  lying  down.  ^5///  /  would  not  exchange  my  place  as  a  forgiven  sin- 
ner, with  '  Christ  in  me  the  hope  of  glory',  for  all  the  wealth  and  the  honor 
that  Qneen  Victoria  coidd  bestow  upon  me  f  '  " 

What  a  blessed  Saviour  Jesus  is,  who  can  thus  spread  the  sunshine 
of  his  peace,  and  hope,  through  the  hearts,  and  homes  of  the  poorest,  and 
most  afflicted  in  the  land ! 

And  thus,  we  have  spoken-  of  three  good  reasons,  why  all  who  love 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  should  keep  this  solemn  sacrament,  which  he  has 
ordained  ;  we  should  do  it  because  we  see  in  it — the  word  of  his  command 
— the  memorial  of  his  sufferings — and  the  hope  of  his  glory. 

And  when  we  partake  of  this  solemn  ordinance  ourselves,  or  see 
others  partaking  of  it,  how  well  we  may  say  in  the  beautiful  lines  of  Hav- 
ergal,  the  English  poetess  : — 

"  Thou  art  coming !       At  thy  table 
We  are  witnesses  for  this, 
While  remembering  hearts  thou  meetest, 
In  communion  closest,  sweetest, 
Earnest  of  our  coming  bliss. 
Showing  not  thy  death  alone, 
And  thy  love  exceeding  great, 
But  thy  coming,  and  thy  throne, 
All  for  which  we  long  and  wait. 


lO 


THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


O  the  joy  to  see  thee  reigning, 
Thee,  our  own  beloved   Lord ; 
Every  tongue  thy  name  confessing, 
Worship,  honor,  glory,  blessing, 
Brought  to  thee  with  glad  accord, 
Thee  our  master  and  our    Friend, 
Vindicated  and  enthroned ; 
Unto  earth's   remotest  end, 
Glorified,  adored,  and  owned." 


"  THIS  DO  IN  REMEMBRANCE  OE  ME." 


In  sailing  across  the  ocean, 
if  we  attempt  to  measure  the 
depth  of  the  water,  in  different 
places,  we  shall  find  that  it 
varies  very  much.  There  are 
hardly  two  places  in  which  it 
is  exactly  the  same.  In  some 
places  it  is  easy  enough  to  find 
the  bottom.  In  others,  it  is 
necessary  to  lengthen  the  line 
greatly,  before  it  can  be  reach- 
ed. And  then  there  are  other 
places  where  the  water  is  so 
deep,  that  the  longest  line,  or- 
dinarily used,  cannot  reach  to 
the  bottom.  We  know  that 
there  is  a  bottom,  but  it  is 
very  hard  to  get  down  to  it. 


•.,,(, HI!  Inll||| 

MY  SOUL  IS 
EXCEEDING 
SORROWFUL 
EVEN  UNTO 
DEATH 


711 


712  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

And,  in  studying  the  history  of  our  Saviour's  life,  we  may  compare 
ourselves  to  persons  sailing  over  the  ocean.  The  things  that  he  did,  and 
the  words  that  he  spoke,  are  like  the  water  over  which  we  are  sailing. 
And  when  we  try  to  understand  the  meaning  of  what  Jesus  said,  and  did, 
we  are  like  the  sailor,  out  at  sea,  who  is  trying  to  fathom  the  water  over 
which  he  is  sailing,  and  to  find  out  how  deep  it  is.  And  in  doing  this  we" 
shall  find  the  same  difference  that  he  finds.  Some  of  the  things  that  Jesus 
did,  and  said,  are  so  plain  and  simple,  that  a  child  can  understand  them. 
These  are  like  those  parts  of  the  ocean  where  a  very  little  line  will  reach 
the  bottom.  Other  things  that  Jesus  did  and  said,  require  hard  study,  if 
we  wish  to  understand  them.  But  then,  there  are  other  parts  of  the  say- 
ings and  doings  of  Jesus,  which  the  best  and  wisest  men,  with  all  their 
learning  and  study,  cannot  fully  understand,  or  explain.  These  are  like 
those  places  in  the  sea,  where  we  cannot  reach  the  bottom  with  our  longest 
lines. 

We  find  our  illustration  of  this  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane.  Some 
of  the  things  that  were  done  and  said  there,  we  can  easily  understand. 
But  other  things  are  told  us,  of  what  Jesus  did,  and  said  there,  which  are 
very  hard  to  explain. 

In  speaking  about  this  part  of  our  Saviour's  life,  there  are  two  things 
for  us  to  notice.  These  are  what  we  are  told  about  Gethsemane,  and  what 
we  are  taught  by  the  things  that  took  piace  there.  Or,  a  shorter  way  of 
stating  it  will  be  to  say  that  our  subject  now  is — the  facts — and  tJie  lessoiis 
of  Gethsemane. 

Let  us  look  now,  at  the  facts  that  are  told  us  about  Gethsemane.  It 
is  a  fact,  that  there  was  such  a  place  as  Gethsemane,  near  Jerusalem,  when 
Jesus  was  on  earth;  and  that  there  is  such  a  place  there  now.  It  is  a  fact, 
that  Gethsemane  was  a  garden,  or  orchard  of  olive  trees  then,  and  so  it  is 
still.  Every  one  who  goes  to  Jerusalem  is  sure  to  visit  this  spot,  because 
it  is  so  sacred  to  all  Christian  hearts,  on  account  of  its  connection  with 
our  Saviour's  sufferings.  The  side  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  on  which 
Gethsemane  stands,  is  dotted  over  with  olive  trees.  A  portion  of  the  hill 
has  been  enclosed  with  stone  walls.  This  is  supposed  to  be  the  spot 
where  our  Lord's  agony  took  place.  Inside  of  these  walls  are  eight  large 
olive  trees.     They  are  gnarled  and  crooked,  and  very  old.     Some  sup- 


yESUS    IN    GETHSEMANE.  713 

pose  they  are  the  very  trees  which  stood  there,  when  Jesus  visited  the 
spot,  on  the  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed.  But  this  is  not  likely.  For 
we  know,  that  when  Titus,  the  Roman  general,  was  besieging  Jerusalem, 
he  cut  down  all  the  trees  that  could  be  found  near  the  city.  But  the 
trees,  now  there,  have  probably  sprung  from  the  roots  of  those  that  were 
growing  in  Gethsemane  on  this  very  night. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  after  keeping  the  last  Passover,  and  observing,  for  the 
first  time  the  Lord's  Supper  with  his  disciples,  Jesus  left  Jerusalem,  near 
midnight  with  the  little  band  of  his  followers.  He  went  down  the  side 
of  the  hill,  on  which  the  city  stood,  and  crossed  the  brook  Kedron  on  the 
way  to  Gethsemane.  It  is  a  fact,  that  on  going  into  the  garden  he  left 
eight  of  his  disciples  at  the  entrance.  It  is  a  fact,  that  he  took  with  him 
the  chosen,  favored  three,  Peter,  James,  and  John  and  went  further  into  the 
garden.  It  is  a  fact,  that  then  he  "began  to  be  sorrowful,  and  very  heavy. 
Then  saith  he — my  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death."  It  is 
a  fact,  that  he  withdrew  from  the  three  disciples,  and,  alone  with  God,  he 
bowed  himself  to  the  earth,  and  prayed,  saying,  "  O,  my  Father,  if  it  be 
possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me."  It  is  a  fact,  that  after  offering  this 
earnest  prayer,  he  returned  to  his  disciples,  and  found  them  asleep,  and 
said  to  Peter,  "  What  I  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one  hour  ?  Watch 
and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation."  It  is  a  fact,  that  he  went 
away  again,  "  and  being  in  an  agony  he  prayed  more  earnestly,  and  his 
sweat  was,  as  it  were,  great  drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the  ground." 
It  is  a  fact,  that  in  the  depth  of  his  agony,  "  there  appeared  unto  him  an 
angel  from  heaven  strengthening  him."  We  are  not  told  what  the  angel 
said  to  him.  No  doubt  he  brought  to  him  some  tender,  loving  words 
from  his  Father  in  heaven,  to  comfort,  and  encourage  him.  It  is  a  fact 
that  he  returned  to  his  disciples  again  and  found  them  sleeping,  for  their 
eyes  were  heavy.  It  is  a  fact  that  he  went  away  again,  and  prayed,  say- 
ing, "  O,  my  Father,  if  this  cup  may  not  pass  from  me  except  I  drink  it, 
thy  will  be  done."  It  is  a  fact,  that  he  returned  the  third  time  to  his  dis- 
ciples, and  said — "  Sleep  on  now,  and  take  your  rest:  behold  the  hour  is  at 
hand,  and  the  Son  of  Man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  sinners.  Rise, 
let  us  be  going :  behold  he  is  at  hand  that  doth  betray  me."  And  it  is  a 
fact,   that,   immediately  after  he  had   spoken   these  words,  the  wretched 


•4 


THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 


Judas  appeared,  with  his  band  to  take  him.  These  are  the  facts  told  us 
by  the  evangelists  respecting  Jesus,  and  his  agony  in  Gethsemane.  They 
are  very  wonderful  facts,  and  the  scene  which  they  set  before  us  in  our 
Saviour's  life  is  one  of  the  most  solemn  and  awful  that  ever  was  wit- 
nessed. 


He  fell  to  the  earth. 


And  now,  let  us  go  on   to  speak  of  the  lessons  taught  us  by  these 
facts.     These  lessons  2LX&foiiK. 

The  first  lesson  we  learn  from  Gethsemane  is  a  lesson — about  prayer. 
As  soon  as  this  great  trouble  came  upon  our  blessed  Lord  in  Geth- 


yESUS    IN    GETHSEMANE.  715 

seniane,  we  see  him,  at  once,  separating  himself  from  his  disciples,  and 
seeking  the  comfort,  and  support  of  his  Father's  presence  in  prayer.  And 
this  was  what  he  was  in  the  habit  of  doing.  We  remember  how  he  spent 
the  night  in  prayer,  before  engaging  in  the  important  work  of  choosing 
his  disciples.  And  now,  as  soon  as  the  burden  of  this  great  sorrow  comes 
crushing  down  upon  him,  the  first  thing  he  does,  is  to  seek  relief  in 
prayer. 

The  apostle  Paul  is  speaking  of  this,  when  he  says,  that,  "  he  offered 
up  prayers  and  supplications,  loitli  strong  crying  and  tears,  ttuto  Jiini  that 
icas  able  to  save  him  from  death,  and  luas  heard  in  that  he  feared."  Heb. 
v:  7.  This  refers  particularly  to  what  took  place  here  in  Gethsemane. 
The  earnestness  which  marked  our  Saviour's  prayers^  on  this  occasion  is 
especially  mentioned.  He  mingled  tears  with  his  prayers.  It  appears, 
from  what  the  apostle  here  says,  that  there  was  something  connected  with 
his  approaching  death  upon  the  cross,  that  Jesus  particularly  feared.  We 
are  not  told  what  it  was.  And  it  is  not  worth  while  for  us  to  try  and  find 
it  out ;  for  we  cannot  do  it.  But  the  prayer  of  Jesus,  was  not  in  vain. 
"  He  was  heard,  in  that  he  feared."  No  doubt  this  refers  to  what  took 
place  when  the  angel  came  to  strengthen  him.  His  prayer  was  not  an- 
swered literally.  He  was  not  actually  saved  from  death ;  but  he  was 
saved  from  what  he  feared  in  connection  with  death.  Our  Lord's  expe- 
rience, in  this  respect,  was  like  that  of  St.  Paul,  when  he  prayed  to  be 
delivered  from  the  thorn  in  the  flesh.  The  thorn  was  not  taken  aw^ay, 
but  grace  was  given  him  to  bear  it,  and  that  was  better  than  having  it 
taken  away.  The  promise  is — "  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he 
shall  sustain  thee."  Ps.  Iv:  22.  And  so,  from  the  gloomy  shades  of 
Gethsemane,  with  our  Saviour's  agony  and  bloody  sweat,  there  comes  to 
us  a  precious  lesson  about  prayer.  We  see  Jesus  praying  under  the 
sorrows  that  overwhelmed  him  there :  his  prayer  was  heard,  and  he  was 
helped. 

And  thus,  by  the  example  of  our  blessed  Lord,  we  arc  taught,  when 
we  have  any  heavy  burden  to  bear,  or  any  hard  duty  to  do,  to  carry  it  to 
the  Lord  in  prayer. 

Let  us  look  at  some  examples,  from  every  day  life,  of  the  benefit 
that  follows  from  prayer. 


7i6 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


Washington  s  Prayer.  General  Washington  was  one  of  the  best  and 
greatest  men  that  this  country,  or  any  other  ever  had.  He  was  a  man  of 
piety  and  prayer. 

While  he  was  a  young  man,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Dinwiddle  of 
Virginia,  to  the  command  of  a  body  of  troops,  and  sent  on  some  duty  in 
the  western  part  of  that  state.  A  part  of  these  troops  was  composed  of 
friendly  Indians.  There  was  no  chaplain  in  that  little  army,  and  so 
Washington  used  to  act  as  chaplain  himself.  He  was  in  the  habit  of 
standing  up,  in  the  presence  of  his  men,  with  his  head  uncovered,  and 


Washington   praying. 


reverently  asking  the  God  of  heaven,  to  protect  and  bless  them,  in  the 
work  they  were  sent  to  do.  And  no  doubt,  the  great  secret  of  Washing- 
ton's success  in  life,  was  his  habit  of  prayer.  He  occupied  many  positions 
of  honor,  and  dignity,  during  his  useful  life.  But,  never  did  he  occupy 
any  position,  in  which  he  appeared  so  manly,  so  honorable,  and  so  truly 
noble,  as  when  he  stood  forth,  a  young  man,  in  the  presence  of  his  little 
army,  and  tried  to  lift  up  their  thoughts  to  God  above,  as  the  one  "  from 
whom  all  blessings  flow." 

Praying  better  than  Stealing.     A  poor  family  lived  near  a  wood  wharf 
The  father  of  this  family  got  on  very  well  while  he  kept  sober ;  but  when 


yESUS   IN    GETHSEMANE.  7,7 


he  went  to  the  tavern,  to  spend  his  evenings,  and  his  earnings,  as  he  did 
sometimes,  then  his  poor  family  had  to  suffer.  One  winter,  during  a  cold 
spell  of  weather,  he  was  taken  sick  from  a  drunken  frolic.  Their  wood 
was  nearly  gone. 

After  dark  one  night,  he  called  his  oldest  boy  John,  to  his  bedside, 
and  whispered  to  him  to  go  to  the  wood  wharf,  and  bring  an  armful  of 
wood. 

"  I  can't  do  that,"  said  John. 

"  Can't  do  it — why  not  ?  " 

"  Because  that  would  be  stealing,  and  since  I  have  been  going  to 
Sabbath-school,  I've  learned  that  God's  commandment  is,  '  Thou  shalt 
not  steal.' " 

"  Well,  and  didn't  you  learn  that  another  of  God's  commandments 
is — "  Children,  obey  your  parents  ?" 

"Yes,  father,"  answered  the  boy. 

"  Well,  then,  mind  and  do  what  I  tell  you." 

Johnny  was  perplexed.  He  knew  there  must  be  some  way  of  an- 
swering his  father,  but  he  did  not  know  exactly  how  to  do  it.  The  right 
thing  would  have  been,  for  him  to  say  that,  when  our  parents  tell  us  to 
do,  what  is  plainly  contrary  to  the  command  of  God,  we  must  obey  God 
rather  than  men.     But  Johnny  had  not  learned  this  yet.     So  he  said, 

"  Father,  please  excuse  me  from  stealing.  I'll  ask  God  to  send  us 
some  wood.  Praying's  better  than  stealing.  I'm  pretty  sure  God  will 
send  it.  And  if  it  don't  come  before  I  come  home  from  school,  at  noon 
to-morrow,  I  will  go  and  work  for  some,  or  beg  some.  I  can  work,  and  I 
can  beg,  but  I  can't  steal." 

Then  Johnny  crept  up  into  the  loft  where  he  slept,  and  prayed  to 
God  about  this  matter.  He  said  the  Lord's  prayer,  which  his  teacher  had 
taught  him.  And  after  saying — "  give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread ;"  he 
added — "and  please  Lord  send  us  some  wood  too,  and  let  father  see  that 
praying  is  better  than  stealing — for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen." 

And  at  noon,  next  day,  when  he  came  home  from  school,  as  he  turned 
round  the  corner,  and  came  in  sight  of  their  home,  what  do  you  think  was 
the  first  thing  he  saw  ?  Why,  a  load  of  wood  before  their  door !  Yes, 
there  it  was.     His  mother  told  him  the  overseers  of  the  poor  had  sent  it. 


7i8  THE     LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

He  did  not  know  diem.     He  believed  it  was  God  who  sent  it.     And   he 
was  right. 

The  first  lesson  fi'om  Gethsemane  is  about  prayer. 

The  second  lesson  from  this  hallowed  spot  is — about  sin. 

Here,  in  Gethsemane,  we  see  Jesus  engaged  in  paying  the  price  of 
our  redemption :  this  means,  what  he  had  to  suffer  for  us  before  our  sins 
could  be  pardoned.  The  pains  and  sorrows,  through  which  Jesus  passed, 
in  the  agony  of  the  garden,  and  the  death  on  the  cross:  the  sighs  he 
heaved — the  groans  he  uttered — the  tears  he  shed — the  fears,  the  griefs, 
the  unknown  sufferings  that  he  bore- — ^all  these  were  part  of  the  price  he 
had  to  pay,  that  we  might  be  saved  from  our  sins. 

When  we  read  of  all  that  Jesus  endured  in  Gethsemane  :  when  we 
hear  him  say — "  my  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death  :"  when 
we  see  him  fall  to  the  earth,  in  such  an  agony  that  "  his  sweat  was,  as  it 
were,  great  drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the  ground:"  we  may  well  ask 
the  question — what  was  it  which  caused  him  all  this  fearful  suffering? 
And  there  is  only  one  way  of  answering  this  question  ;  and  this  is  by  say- 
ing tJiat  he  was  bearing  the  pnnishnicuf  of  our  sins.  There  was  nothing 
else  that  could  have  made  him  feel  so  sad  and  sorrowful.  But  this  ex- 
plains it  all.  Then,  as  the  prophet  says—"  He  was  wounded  for  our  trans- 
gressions, he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities ; — and  the  Lord  had  laid  on 
him  the  iniquity  of  us  all."  Isaiah  liii :  5,  6.  Our  sins  had  provoked  the 
wrath  of  God  against  us,  and  Jesus  was  bearing  that  wrath  for  us.  In  all 
the  world,  there  is  nothing  that  shows,  so  clearly,  what  a  fearful  thing  sin 
is,  as  the  awful  sufferings  of  Jesus,  when  he  was  paying  the  price  of  our 
sins,  or  making  atonement  for  us.  And,  it  is  by  knowing  what  took  place 
in  Gethsemane,  and  on  Calvary,  and  o//lv  in  this  way,  that  we  can  learn 
what  a  terrible  evil  sin  is,  and  how  we  are  to  be  saved  from  it. 

Some  years  ago,  there  was  a  good  Christian  lady,  in  England,  who 
had  taken  into  her  family  a  deaf  and  dumb  boy.  She  was  anxious  to 
teach  him  the  lesson  of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary;  that  Christ  had  suffered 
and  died  for  our  sins.  Signs  and  pictures  were  the  only  means  by  which 
she  could  teach  him.  So  she  drew  a  picture  of  a  great  crowd  of  people, 
old  and  young,  standing  near  a  deep,  wide  pit,  out  of  which  smoke  and 
flames  were  issuing,  and  into  which  they  were  in  danger  of  being  driven. 


yESUS    IN    GETHSEMANE.  719 

Then  she  drew  the  figure  of  one  who  came  down  from  heaven,  represent- 
ing Jesus,  the  Son  of  God.  She  explained  to  the  boy  that  when  this 
person  came,  he  asked  God  not  to  throw  those  people  into  the  pit,  because 
he  was  willing  to  suffer,  and  to  die  for  them,  that  the  pit  might  be  shut 
up,  and  the  people  saved. 

The  deaf  and  dumb  boy  wondered  much ;  and  then  made  signs  that 
the  person  who  offered  to  die  was  only  one,  while  the  guilty  ones,  who 
deserved  to  die,  were  many.  He  did  not  understand  how  God  could  be 
willing  to  take  one,  in  the  place  of  so  many.  The  lady  saw  the  difficulty 
that  was  in  the  boy's  mind.  Then  she  took  a  gold  ring  off  from  her  finger, 
and  put  it  down  by  the  side  of  a  great  heap  of  withered  leaves,  from  some 
faded  flowers,  and  then  asked  the  boy,  by  signs,  which  was  the  more  val- 
uable, the  one  gold  ring,  or  the  many  withered  leaves  ?  The  boy  took  in 
the  idea  at  once.  He  clapped  his  hands  with  delight,  and  then  by  signs 
exclaimed — "  The  one — the  golden  one."  And  then,  to  show  that  he 
knew  what  this  meant,  and  that  the  life  of  Jesus  was  worth  more  than  the 
world  of  sinners  for  which  he  died,  he  ran  and  got  his  letters,  and  spelled 
the  words — "  Good  !  The  golden  one  good  !"  The  deaf  and  dumb  boy 
had  learned  two  great  lessons  that  day.  For  one  thing  he  had  learned  this 
lesson  about  sin,  which  we  are  trying  to  learn  from  Gethsemane.  He  saw 
what  a  dreadful  thing  sin  is,  when  it  was  necessary  for  Jesus  to  die  before 
it  could  be  pardoned.  And  then,  at  the  same  time,  he  learned  a  lesson 
about  Jesus.  He  saw  what  a  golden,  glorious  character  he  is:  that  he  is 
perfect  man,  and  perfect  God.  This  made  his  blood  so  precious,  that  the 
shedding  of  that  blood  was  a  price  sufficient  to  pay  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world. 

And  now,  let  us  see,  for  a  moment,  how  much  good  is  done  by  tell- 
ing to  poor  sinners,  this  story  of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  and  of  the 
sufferings  of  Jesus  there.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  the  power  of  this 
story,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  one  of  the  Moravian  Missionaries  in 
Greenland. 

Kazainak  was  a  robber  chief,  who  lived  among  "Greenland's  icy 
mountains."  He  came,  one  day  to  a  hut,  where  the  missionary  was 
engaged  in  translating,  into  the  language  of  that  country,  the  gospel  of 
St.  John.     He  saw  the  missionary  writing,  and  asked  him  what  he  was 


720 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


doing.  Pointing  to  the  letters  he  had  just  written,  he  said  those  marks 
were  words,  and  that  the  book  from  which  they  were  written  could  speak. 
Kazainak  said  he  would  like  to  hear  what  the  book  had  to  say.     The 


An  Angel  strengthening  Him. 


missionary  took  up  the  book,  and  read  from  it,  the  story  of  Christ's  cruci- 
fixion.    When  he  stopped  reading  the  chief  asked, 

"  What  had  this  man  done,  that  he  was  put  to  death  ?  had  he  robbed 


JESUS   IN    GETHSEMANE. 


721 


any  one  ?  or  murdered  any  one  ?  had  he  done  wrong  to  any  one  ?     Why 
did  he  die  ?" 

"  No,"  said  the  missionary.     "  He  had  robbed  no  one ;  he  had  mur- 
dered no  one ;  he  had  done  no  wrong  to  any  one." 


The  Arrest   of  Jesus. 


"  Then,  why  did  he  die  ?" 

"Listen,"  said  the  missionary.  "Jesus  had  done  no  wrong;  but  Ka- 
zainak  has  done  wrong.  Jesus  had  robbed  no  one ;  but  Kazainak  has 
robbed  many.    Jesus  had  murdered  no  one ;  but  Kazainak  has  murdered 


722  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

his  brother ;  Kazainak  has  murdered  his  child.    Jesus  suffered  that  Kaza- 
inak  might  not  suffer;  Jesus  died  that  Kazainak  might  not  die." 

"  Tell  me  that  again,"  said  the  astonished  chief  It  was  told  him 
again,  and  the  end  of  it  was  that  the  hard-hearted,  blood-stained  murder- 
er, became  a  gentle,  loving  Christian.  He  never  knew  what  sin  was,  till 
he  heard  of  Christ's  sufferings  for  it. 

The  second  lesson  we  learn  from  Gethsemane  is — the  lesson  about 
sin. 

The  third  lesson  from  GetJiseniane  is  the  lesson  about  submission. 

Jesus  taught  us,  in  the  Lord's  prayer,  to  say,  "Thy  will  be  done  on 
earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven."  And  this  is  one  of  the  most  important  lessons, 
we  ever  have  to  learn.  It  is  very  easy  to  say  these  words — "  Thy  will  be 
done ;"  but  it  is  not  so  easy  to  feel  them,  and  to  be  and  do  just  what  they 
teach.  The  will  of  God  is  always  right,  and  good,  and  holy.  Everything 
opposed  to  his  will  is  sinful.  St.  Paul  tells  us  that — "  sin  is  the  trans- 
gression of  the  law."  To  transgress  a  law,  means  to  walk  over  it,  or  to 
break  it.  But  the  law  of  God  is  only  his  will,  made  known.  And  so, 
everything  that  we  think,  or  feel,  or  say,  or  do,  contrary  to  the  will  of  God 
— -is  sin.  And  when  we  remember  this  it  should  make  us  very  anxious 
to  learn  the  lesson  of  submission  to  the  will  of  God.  If  we  could  all 
learn  to  do  the  will  of  God  as  the  angels  do,  it  would  make  our  earth  like 
heaven.  And  this  is  one  reason  why  Jesus  was  so  earnest  in  teaching  us 
this  lesson.  He  not  only  preached  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  but 
practised  it.  When  he  entered  Gethsemane,  he  compared  the  dreadful 
sufferings  before  him  to  a  cup,  filled  with  something  very  bitter,  which  he 
was  asked  to  drink.  Now,  no  person,  however  good,  or  holy  he  may  be, 
likes  to  endure  dreadful  sufferings.  It  is  natural  for  us  to  shrink  back 
from  suffering,  and  to  try  to  get  away  from  it.  And  this  was  just  the  way 
that  Jesus  felt.  He  did  not  love  suffering  any  more  than  you  or  I  do. 
And  so,  when  he  prayed  the  first  time  in  Gethsemane,  with  those  terrible 
sufferings  immediately  before  him,  his  prayer  was — "  Father,  if  it  be  pos- 
sible, let  this  cup  pass  from  me."  But  the  cup  did  not  pass  away.  It  was 
held  before  him  still.  He  saw  it  was  his  Father's  will  for  him  to  drink  it. 
So,  when  he  prayed  the  second  time,  his  words  were — "  O,  my  Father,  if 
this  cup  may  not  pass  from  me,  except  I  drink  it:  thy  will  be  done  T  This 


yESUS    IN    GETHSEMANE. 


723 


was  the  most  beautiful  example  of  submission  to  the  will  of  God  the 
world  has  ever  seen. 

When  Adam  was  in  the  garden  of  Eden  he  refused  to  submit  to  the 
will  of  God.  He  said,  by  his  conduct,  "  Not  thy  will,  but  mine  be  done : " 
and  that  brought  the  curse  upon  the  earth,  and  filled  it  with  sorrow  and 
death.  When  Jesus  was  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  he  submitted  to 
the  will  of  God.  He  said,  "  Not  7Hy  will,  but  thine  be  done."  This  took 
away  the  curse  which  Adam  brought  upon  the  earth,  and  left  a  blessing  in 
the  place  of  it — even  life,  and  peace,  and  salvation. 

We  ought  to  learn  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  because  he  knows 
what  is  best  for  us. 


Mt.  Moriah  and  Mt.  of  Olives  with  the  Kedron  Valley,  Siloam,  and  Mount  of  Corruption,  from  the  South. 


The  Curse  of  the  Granted  Prayer. — A  widowed  mother  had  an 
only  child— a  darling  boy.  Her  heart  was  wrapped  up  in  him.  At  one 
time  he  was  taken  very  ill.  The  doctor  thought  he  would  die.  She 
prayed  earnestly  that  his  life  might  be  spared.  But  she  did  not  pray  in 
submission  to  the  will  of  God.  She  said  she  did  not  want  to  live,  unless 
her  child  was  spared  to  her.  He  was  spared.  But,  he  grew  up  to  be  a 
selfish,  disobedient  boy.  One  day,  in  a  fit  of  passion,  he  struck  his  mother. 
That  almost  broke  her  heart.  He  became  worse  and  worse  ;  and,  at  last, 
in  a  drunken  quarrel,  he  killed  one  of  his  companions.  He  was  taken  to 
prison;  was  tried — condemned  to  be  hung — and  ended  his  life  on  the 
gallows.     That  quite  broke  his  mother's  heart. 

Now  God,  in  his  goodness,  was  going  to  save  that  mother  from  all 


724  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIS r. 

this  bitter  sorrow.  And  he  would  have  done  so,  if  she  had  only  learned 
to  say — "  Thy  will  be  done."  She  would  not  say  that.  The  consequence 
was  that  she  brought  on  herself  all  that  heart-breaking  sorrow. 

And  then  we  ought  to  learn  submission  to  the  will  of  God— becatise, 
■whatever  he  takes  away  from  its — he  leaves  us  so  many  blessings  still ! 

Here  is  a  good  illustration  of  this  part  of  our  subject.  Some  years 
ago,  in  a  town  in  New  England,  there  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  who 
was  greatly  interested  in  his  work.  But  he  was  attacked  with  bleeding 
of  the  lungs,  and  was  obliged  to  stop  preaching,  and  resign  the  charge  of 
his  church.  About  the  same  time  his  only  child  was  laid  in  the  grave ; 
his  wife,  for  a  time,  lost  the  use  of  her  eyes;  his  home  was  broken  up,  and 
his  prospects  were  very  dark.  They  had  been  obliged  to  sell  their  fur- 
niture, and  take  boarding  at  a  tavern,  in  the  town  where  they  lived.  But, 
under  all  these  trials,  he  was  resigned  and  cheerful.  He  felt  the  support- 
ing power  of  that  precious  gospel,  which  he  had  so  loved  to  preach.  His 
wife  had  not  felt  as  contented,  and  cheerful,  under  their  trials  as  he  was. 

One  day,  as  he  came  in  from  a  walk,  she  said  to  him;  "Husband 
dear,  I  have  been  thinking  of  our  situation  here,  and  have  made  up  my 
mind  to  try  and  be  patient,  and  submissive  to  the  will  of  God." 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  "  that's  a  good  resolution.  I'm  very  glad  to  hear  it. 
Now,  let  us  see  what  we  have  to  submit  to.  I  will  make  a  list  of  our 
trials.  Well,  in  the  first  place,  we  have  a  comfortable  home ;  we'll  sub- 
mit to  that.  Secondly,  we  have  many  of  the  blessings  of  life,  left  to  us  ; 
we'll  submit  to  that.  Thirdly,  we  are  spared  to  each  other;  we'll  submit 
to  that.  Fourthly,  we  have  a  multitude  of  kind  friends ;  we'll  submit  to 
that.  Fifthly,  we  have  a  loving  God,  and  Saviour,  who  has  promised  to 
take  care  of  us,  and  '  make  all  things  work  together  for  our  good,'  we'll 
submit  to  that." 

This  was  a  view  of  their  case  which  his  wife  had  not  taken.  And  so 
by  the  time  her  husband  had  got  through  with  his  fifthly,  her  heart  was 
filled  with  gratitude,  her  eyes  with  tears,  and  she  exclaimed;  "Stop,  stop; 
please  stop,  my  dear  husband ;  and  I'll  never  say  another  word  about 
submission." 

The  lesson  of  submission  is  the  third  lesson  that  we  are  taught  in 
Gethsemane. 


o 


925 


yESUS   IN    GETHSEMANE. 


727 


The  last  lesson,  for  us  to  learn  from  this  solemn  scene,  in  our  Saviour  s 
life,  is  a  lesson — about  tenderness. 

Jesus  taught  us  this  when  he  came  back,  again  and  again,  from  his 
lonely  struggles  with  the  sufferings  he  was  passing  through,  and  found 
his  disciples  asleep.  It  seemed  very  selfish,  and  unfeeling  in  them,  to 
show  no  more  sympathy  with  their  master,  in  the  time  of  his  greatest 
need.  He  had  told  them  how  full  of  sorrow  he  was,  and  had  asked  them 
to  watch  with  him.  Now,  we  should  have  supposed  that  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, they  would  have  found  it  impossible  to  sleep.     They  ought 


View  showing  the  relative  positions  of  Gethsemane  and  Jerusalem. 


to  have  been  weeping  with  him  in  his  sorrow,  and  uniting  in  prayer  to 
God  to  help  and  comfort  him.  But,  instead  of  this,  while  he  was  bearing 
all  the  agony,  and  bloody  sweat,  which  was  caused  him  by  their  sins,  they 
were  fast  asleep  !  If  Jesus  had  rebuked  them  sharply,  for  their  want  of 
feeling,  it  would  not  have  been  surprising.  But,  he  did  nothing  of  the 
kind.  He  only  asked,  in  his  own  quiet,  gentle  way — "could  ye  not  watch 
with  me  one  hour?"  And  then,  he  kindly  excused  them,  for  their  fault, 
saying — "  The  spirit  indeed  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak  ! "  How  tender, 
and  loving  this  was !  Here  we  have  the  lesson  of  tenderness  that  comes 
to  us  from  Gethsemane.     We  see  here,  beautifully  illustrated,  the  gentle, 


728  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

loving  spirit  of  our  blessed  Saviour.     And  the  exhortation  of  the  apostle, 
is — "  Let  this  mind  be  in  yon,  ivJiicli  was  also  in  Christ  yesiis."   Phil,  ii :  5. 

Some  one  has  well  said,  that  "  the  rule  for  us  to  walk  by,  if  we  are 
true  Christians,  is,  when  any  one  injures  us,  to  forget  one  lialf  of  it,  and 
forgive  the  rest!'  This  is  the  very  spirit  of  our  master.  This  was  the 
way  in  which  he  acted  towards  his  erring  disciples,  in  Gethsemane.  And, 
if  all,  who  bear  the  name  of  Christ,  were  only  trying  to  follow  his  example, 
in  this  respect,  who  can  tell  how  much  good  would  be  done  ? 

Here  are  some  beautiful  illustrations  of  this  lesson  of  tenderness 
and  forbearance,  which  Jesus  taught  us  in  Gethsemane. 

The  Infitence  of  this  Spirit  in  a  Christian  Woman. — A  parish  visitor 
had  a  district  to  attend  to,  which  contained  some  of  the  worst  families  in 
town.  There  was  a  sick  child  in  one  of  those  families.  The  visitor  called 
on  her  every  day.  The  grandfather  of  this  child  was  a  wicked,  hardened 
man,  who  hated  religion,  and  everything  connected  with  it.  He  had  a  big 
dog,  that  was  about  as  savage  as  he  was  himself.  Every  day,  when  he 
saw  this  Christian  woman  coming  to  visit  the  sick  child,  he  would  let 
loose  the  dog  on  her.  The  dog  flew  at  her,  and  caught  hold  of  her  dress. 
But  she  was  a  brave  woman,  and  stood  her  ground  nobly.  A  few  kind 
words  spoken  to  the  dog  took  away  all  his  fierceness.  She  continued 
her  visits,  day  after  day,  bringing  to  the  poor  child  such  nice  things  as 
she  needed.  At  first  the  dog  was  set  upon  her  every  day ;  but  as  she  went 
on  in  her  kind  and  gentle  way,  the  old  man  began  to  feel  ashamed  of 
himself;  and  before  a  week  was  over,  when  he  saw  this  faithful  Christian 
woman  coming  to  the  suffering  little  one,  instead  of  letting  loose  the  dog 
upon  her,  he  would  take  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth,  with  one  hand,  and 
lift  the  cap  from  his  head  with  the  other,  and  make  a  polite  bow  to  her, 
saying,  "Good  morning,  ma'am :  werry  glad  to  see  you." 

And  so  the  spirit  of  Christ,  as  practiced  by  that  good  woman,  won 
the  way  for  the  gospel  into  that  home  of  sin  and  misery,  and  it  brought  a 
blessing  with  it,  as  it  always  does. 

The  Spirit  of  Christ  in  a  Little  Girl. — Sitting  in  school  one  day,  says 
a  teacher,  I  overheard  a  conversation  between  a  little  girl  and  her  brother. 
He  was  complaining  of  various  wrongs,  that  had  been  done  to  him,  by 
another  little  boy,  belonging  to  the  school.     His  face  grew  red  with  anger. 


yESUS   IN    GETHSEMANE. 


729 


and  he  became  very  much  excited,  in  telling  of  all  that  this  boy  had  done 
to  him.  He  was  going  on  to  say  how  he  intended  to  pay  him  back,  when 
his  sister  interrupted  him  by  saying,  "  Brother,  please  don't  talk  any  more 
in  that  way.     Remember  that  Charley  has  no  nwthery 

Her  brother's  lips  were  closed  at  once.  This  gentle  rebuke,  from  his 
sister,  went  straight  to  his  heart.  He  walked  quietly  away,  saying  to 
himself — "  I  never  thought  of  that."  He  remembered  his  own  sweet 
home,  and  the  teaching  of  his  loving  mother ;  and  the  question  came  up 
to  him — -"What  should  I  be  if  I  had  no  mother?"  He  thought  how 
lonely  Charley  must  feel,  and  how  hard  it  must  be  for  him  to  do  right 
without  a  niothcr.  This  took  away  all  his  anger.  And  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  be  kind,  and  forbearing  to  poor  Charley,  and  to  try  to  do  him 
all  the  eood  he  could. 


This  little  girl  was  fol- 
lowing the  example  of 
Christ,  and  we  see  what 
a  good  effect  it  had  uj)- 
on  her  brother. 

A  Boy  with  the  Spirit 
of  Christ.  —  Two  boys 
— Bob  Jones  and  Ben 

Christie  werp  Ipft  Tombs  in  the  Valley  of  Jehosaphat,  with  Jews   Burial  Ground, 

alone  in  a  country  school-house,  between  the  morning  and  afternoon  ses- 
sions. Contrary  to  the  master's  express  orders  Bob  Jones  set  off  some 
fireworks.  When  afternoon  school  began,  the  master  called  up  the  two 
boys,  to  find  out  who  had  done  the  mischief. 

"  Bob,  did  you  set  off  those  fireworks  ?" 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Bob. 

"  Did  you  do  it,  Ben  ?"  was  the  next  question. 

But  Ben  refused  to  answer;  and  so  the  master  flogged  him  severely 
for  his  obstinacy. 

At  the  afternoon  recess  the  boys  were  alone  together.  "  Ben,  why 
didn't  you  deny  it?"  asked  his  companion. 

"  Because  there  were  only  us  two  there,  and  one  of  us  must  have 
lied,"  said  Ben. 


730 


THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


"Then  why  didn't  you  say  I  did  it?" 

"  Because  you  had  said  you  didn't,  and  I  would  rather  take  the  flog- 
ging, than  fasten  the  lie  on  you." 

Bob's  heart  melted  under  this.  Ben's  noble  spirit  quite  overcame 
him.  He  felt  that  he  never  could  allow  his  companion  to  lie  under  the 
charge  of  the  wrong  that  he  had  done. 

As  soon  as  the  school  began  again,  Bob  marched  up  to  the  master's 
desk,  and  said, 


rhe  old  lower  at  the  Jaffa  Gate,  and  the  Citadel. 


"  Please,  sir,  I  can't  bear  to  be  a  liar.  Ben  Christie  didn't  set  off 
these  fire-crackers.  I  did  it,  and  he  took  the  flogging  rather  than  charge 
me  with  the  lie."     And  then  Bob  burst  into  tears. 

The  master  looked  at  him  in  surprise.  He  thought  of  the  unjust 
punishment  Ben  had  received,  his  conscience  smote  him,  and  his  eyes 
filled  with  tears.  Taking  hold  of  Bob's  hand,  they  walked  slowly  together 
to  Ben  Christie's  seat ;  then  the  master  said  aloud, — 

"Ben,  Ben,  my  lad,  Bob  and  I  have  done  you  wrong;  we  both  ask 
your  pardon !" 


yESUS    IN    GETHSEMANE. 


731 


The  school  was  hushed  and  still  as  the  grave.  You  might  almost 
have  heard  Ben's  big-boy  tears  dropping  on  his  book.  But,  in  a  moment, 
dashing  the  tears  away,  he  cried  out — "  Three  cheers  for  the  master." 
They  gave  three  cheers.  And  then  Bob  Jones  added — "And  now  three 
cheers  for  Ben  Christie" — and  they  made  the  school-house  ring  again 
with  three  rousing  cheers  for  Ben. 

Ben  Christie  was  acting  in  the  spirit  of  Christ,  in  what  he  did  that 
day.  And  by  doing  so,  he  did  good  to  his  companion,  Bob  Jones.  He 
did  good  to  the  master,  and  to  every  scholar  in  the  school. 


Disciples  asleep  in  the  Garden. 


And  there  is  no  way  in  which  we  can  do  so  much  real  good,  to  all 
about  us,  as  by  trying  to  catch  the  spirit,  and  follow  the  example  of  our 
blessed  Saviour. 

And  so,  when  we  think  of  Jesus  in  Gethsemane  let  us  never  forget 
the  facts  and  the  lessons  connected  with  that  sacred  place.  The  facts  are 
too  many  to  be  repeated.  The  lessons  are  four.  There  is  the  lesson 
about  prayer;  the  lesson  about  sin;  the  lesson  about  submission;  and 
the  lesson  about  tenderness. 

And,  as  we  leave  this  solemn  subject,  we  may  each  of  us  say,  in  the 
words  of  the  hymn, 


The  Garden  of  Gethsemane. 


THE    BETRAYAL   AND   DESERTION. 


NE  of  the  darkest  chapters  in  the  history  of  our  Saviour's 
life,  is  this  now  before  us.  Here  we  see  him  betrayed 
into  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  by  one  of  his  disciples, 
and  deserted  by  all  the  rest. 

In  studying  this  subject,  we  may  look  at  the  his- 
tory of  the  betrayal  and  desertion,  and  then  consider 
some  of  the  lessons  that  it  teaches. 

The  man  who  committed  this  awful  crime  was 
y/u/as  Iscariot.  He  was  one  of  the  twelve,  whom 
Jesus  chose,  in  the  early  part  of  his  ministry,  to  be  with 
him,  all  the  time,  to  see  all  the  mighty  works  that  he 
did,  and  to  hear  all  that  he  said  in  private,  as  well  as 
in  public.  He  is  called  Judas  Iscariot,  to  distinguish 
him  from  another  of  the  disciples  of  the  same  name,  viz.,  Judas,  the 
brother  of  James.     Different  explanations  have  been  given,  of  the  mean- 

733 


734  THE     LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

ing  of  this  name  Iscariot.  The  most  likely  is,  that  it  was  used  to  denote 
the  place  of  his  birth.  If  this  be  so,  then  it  was  written  at  first,  Judas-Ish- 
Kerioth — which  means  a  man  of  Kerioth.  And  then,  this  would  show  us 
that  he  belonged  to  a  town,  in  the  southern  part  of  Judah,  called  Kerioth. 

We  know  nothing  about  Judas  before  we  hear  him  spoken  of,  as  one 
of  the'  twelve  apostles.  In  the  different  lists  of  the  names  of  the  apostles, 
he  is  always  mentioned  last,  because  of  the  dreadful  sin,  which  he  finally 
committed.  When  his  name  is  mentioned  he  is  generally  spoken  of  as 
"the  traitor" — or  as  the  man  "which  also  betrayed  him."  Jesus  knew,  of 
course,  from  the  beginning,  what  kind  of  a  man  Judas  was,  and  what  he 
would  do  in  the  end.  But,  we  have  no  reason  to  suppose  that  Judas  him- 
self had  any  idea  of  committing  this  horrible  crime,  when  he  first  became 
an  apostle ;  or  that  the  other  apostles  ever  had  the  least  suspicion  of  him. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  took  part  with  the  other  apostles,  when 
Jesus  sent  them,  before  his  face,  to  "preach  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom," 
and  to  perform  "  many  mighty  works."  Yes,  Judas,  who  afterwards 
betrayed  his  Master,  preached  the  gospel,  and  performed  miracles,  in  the 
name  of  Jesus.  His  fellow-disciples,  so  far  from  suspecting  any  harm  of 
him,  made  him  the  treasurer  of  their  little  company,  and  let  him  "  have 
the  bag,"  and  manage  their  money  affairs.  And  this,  may  have  been  the 
very  thing  that  ruined  him. 

The  first  time  that  we  see  anything  wrong  in  Judas,  is  at  the  supper 
given  to  our  Lord  at  Bethany.  We  read  about  this  in  St.  John  12:  1-9. 
On  this  occasion,  Mary,  the  sister  of  Lazarus,  brought  a  very  precious  box 
of  ointment,  and  anointed  the  feet  of  Jesus  with  it.  Judas  thought  this 
ointment  was  wasted,  and  asked  why  it  had  not  been  sold  for  three  hun- 
dred pence,  and  given  to  the  poor.  This  would  be  about  forty-five,  or 
fifty  dollars  of  our  money.  It  is  added — "  This  he  said,  not  because  he 
cared  for  the  poor;  but  because  he  was  a  thief,  and  had  the  bag,  and  bore 
what  was  put  therein."  None  of  the  disciples  suspected  Judas  of  being  a 
thief,  at  this  time.  These  words  were  added,  long  after  the  death  of 
Judas,  when  his  true  character  was  well  known. 

But,  when  Jesus  rebuked  Judas,  for  finding  fault  with  Mary,  and 
praised  her  highly  for  what  she  had  done,  he  was  greatly  offended.  And 
then,  it  seems,  he  first  made  up  his  mind  to  do  that  terrible  deed,  which 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


735 


has  left  so  deep,  and  dread- 
ful a  stain  upon  his  memo- 
ry. For  we  read — St.  Math. 
xxva  :  14-16 — "Then  one 
of  the  twelve,  called  Judas 
Iscariot,  went  unto  the  chief 
priests,  and  said  unto  them, 
What  will  ye  give  me,  and 
I  will  betray  him  unto  you  ? 
And  they  covenanted  with 
him  for  thirty  pieces  of  sil- 
ver. And  from  that  time 
he  sought  opportunity  to 
betray  him."  The  paltry 
sum  for  which  Judas  agreed 
to  betray  his  Master  was 
about  fifteen  dollars  of  our 
money  —  the  price  of  a 
common  slave. 

Very  soon  after  this  Jesus 
met  his  disciples,  in  that 
upper  chamber  of  Jerusa- 
lem, to  eat  the  Passover 
together,  for  the  last  time. 
And  Judas  came  with  them. 
How  could  the  wretched 
man,  venture  into  the  pre- 
sence of  Jesus,  when  he 
had  already  agreed  to  be- 
tray him  ? 

But  Jesus  knew  all  about 
it.  How  startled  Judas 
must  have  been,  when  he  heard  Jesus  say,  before  them  all — "  One  of  you 
shall  betray  me."  It  is  probable  that  Jesus  said  this  to  drive  Judas  out 
from  his  presence,  for  it  must  have  been  very  painful  to  him  to  have  him 


The  Betrayal. 


736  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

there.  And,  after  Jesus  had  given  the  sop  to  Judas,  to  show  by  this,  that 
he  knew  who  the  traitor  was,  we  read  that — "  Satan  entered  into  him. 
Then  Jesus  said  unto  him,  That  thou  doest  do  quickly."  Then  he 
"went  immediately  out;"  and  hastened  to  the  chief  priests  to  make 
arrangements  for  delivering  Jesus  unto  them. 

It  is  clear,  I  think,  from  this  that  Judas  was  not  present  while  Jesus 
was  instituting  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  must  have  been  a  wonderful  relief 
to  Jesus  when  Judas  left  their  little  company.  And  we  are  not  surprised 
to  find  it  written — "  When  he  was  gone  out  Jesus  said.  Now  is  the  Son  of 
man  glorified,  and  God  is  glorified  in  him,"  St.  John  xiii :  31.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  Lord's  Supper;  and  the  glorious  things  spoken  of  in  the  14th, 
15th,  and  i6th  chapters  of  St.  John,  and  the  great  prayer  in  the  17th 
chapter.     After  this  came  the  agony  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane. 

Just  as  this  was  over,  Judas  appeared  with  the  band  of  soldiers,  and 
servants  of  the  chief  priests  "  with  lanterns,  and  torches,  and  weapons." 
Jesus  went  forth  to  meet  them,  and  asked  whom  they  were  seeking.  They 
answered,  "Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  I  am  he.  As  soon 
as  he  had  said  unto  them  I  am  he,  they  went  backward  and  fell  to  the 
ground."  Then  Judas  came  to  Jesus  according  to  the  signal  he  had  given 
them,  and  said,  Hail,  Master,  and  kissed  him.  But  Jesus  said  unto  him, 
Judas,  betrayest  thou  the  Son  of  man  with  a  kiss  ?  Then  Peter  drew  his 
sword  to  defend  his  Master,  and  struck  a  servant  of  the  high-priest,  and 
cut  off  his  right  ear.  Jesus  touched  the  ear,  and  healed  it ;  and  told  Peter 
to  put  up  his  sword.  Then  they  came  to  Jesus  and  bound  him,  and  led 
him  away  to  the  high-priest ;  and  it  is  added  :  "  Then  all  the  disciples  for- 
sook him  and  fled y  He  was  betrayed  by  one  of  his  own  disciples,  and 
forsaken  by  all  the  rest. 

Nothing  is  said  about  Judas  during  the  time  of  the  trial  of  Jesus. 
Some  suppose  that  he  expected  our  Lord  would  deliver  himself  out  of  the 
hands  of  his  enemies.  We  have  no  authority  for  thinking  so.  But,  when 
he  found,  at  last,  that  Jesus  was  condemned,  and  was  really  to  be  put  to 
death,  his  conscience  smote  him,  for  what  he  had  done.  He  brought  back 
the  thirty  pieces  of  silver — the  beggarly  price  he  had  received  for  betray- 
ing his  Master — and  threw  them  down  at  the  feet  of  the  chief  priests, 
saying — "  I  have  sinned,   in   that   I  have  betrayed  the   innocent   blood. 


THE    BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


72,7 


V  A  I.  L  f. 


\W 


A 


And  they  said — What  is  that  to  us  ?     See  thou,  to  that.     And  he  went, 
and  hanged  himself." 

This  was  the  end  of  the  wretched  man,  so  far  as  this  world  is  con- 
cerned.    And  such  is  the  history  of  the  betrayal  and  desertion  of  Jesus. 

We  might  refer  to  many  lessons 
taught  us  by  this  sad  history,  but  we 
shall  only  speak  of  four.  Two  of 
these  relate  to  Jesus,  and  two  of  them 
to  Judas. 

0)ie  of  the  lessons  about  yesus, 
taught  us  here,  refers  to — the  lone- 
liness  OF   HIS   SUFFERINGS. 

We  all  know  how  natural  it  is, 
when  we  are  in  trouble,  to  desire  to 
have  some  one  near  who  loves  us. 
The  very  first  thing  a  child  does, 
when  worried  about  anything,  is  to 
run  to  its  mother,  and  throw  itself 
into  her  loving  arms.  It  would  al- 
most break  the  child's  heart  if  it  could 
not  have  its  mother's  presence,  and 
gentle  sympathy,  at  such  a  time. 

And  it  is  the  same  when  we 
grow  older.  We  naturally  seek  the 
company  of  our  dearest  friends  in 
times  of  trouble.  And  it  adds  greatly 
to  our  suffering,  if  we  cannot  have 
those  we  love  near  us  when  we  are  in 
sorrow.  But,  in  the  history  of  our 
Saviour's  betrayal  and  desertion,  we 
see  how  it  was  with  him.  In  the 
midst  of  his  great  trouble,  when  the  wrath  of  God,  occasioned  by  our  sins, 
was  pressing  heavily  upon  him,  he  was  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  his 
enemies,  by  one  of  the  little  band  of  his  own  chosen  followers.  How 
much  this  must  have  added  to  his  sorrow  I    And  if  the  rest  of  his  apostles 


%4/ 


////  //  / 


Plan  of  Jerusalem. 

{From  a  drawing  by  Mr.  Fergusson.) 
Scale,  1084  yards  to  the  inch. 


1.  Scopus. 

2.  Toml's  of  the  Kings. 

3.  Damascus  Gate. 

4-  St.  Stephen's  Gate. 

5.  Golden  Gate. 

6.  David's  Gate. 

7.  Jaffa  Gate. 

8.  Pool  of  Hezekiah. 

g.  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepul- 
chre. 

10.  Jall'ld  Ruin. 

11.  Castle  of  David. 

12.  Citadel. 

13.  Pool  of  Eethesda. 

14.  The  Haram^or  Holy  Place, 

containing, 

15.  The  Dome  of  the  Rock,  and 

16.  The  Mosques  El-Aksa  and 

Omar. 


17.  Fountain  of  the  Virgin. 

18.  Pillar  of  Absalom. 

19.  Gethsemane. 

20.  Shoulder  of  the  Mount   of 

( 'lives,  where  "  He  be- 
held the  city,  and  wept 
over  it." 

21.  Enrogel. 

22.  Upper  Pool. 

23.  Lower  Pool. 

24.  Summit   of    the    Mount  of 

Olives. 

25.  Hill  of  Evil  Counsel.  - 

26.  Mount  of  Corruption. 

27.  Village  of  Siloam. 

28.  Pool  of  Siloam. 

29.  Sepulchre  of  David. 


738  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

had  only  stood  by  him  faithfully,  as  they  had  promised  to  do,  during  that 
night  of  sorrow,  it  would  have  been  some  comfort  to  him.  But  they  did 
not.  As  soon  as  they  saw  the  traitor  Judas  deliver  him  into  the  hands  of 
his  enemies,  we  read  these  sad,  and  melancholy  words,  "  Then  all  the 
disciples  forsook  him,  and  fled  I ''  How  hard  this  must  have  been  for 
Jesus  to  bear !  The  cup  of  his  sorrows  was  full  before ;  this  must  have 
made  it  overflow.  He  knew  it  was  coming.  For,  not  long  before,  he  had 
told  them  that  "  the  hour  was  coming,  when  they  would  be  scattered,  and 
leave  him  alone."  This  shows  how  deeply  he  felt,  and  feared  this  loneli- 
ness. Seven  hundred  years  before  he  came  into  our  world,  the  prophet 
Isaiah  represented  him  as  saying — "  I  have  trodden  the  wine-press  alone" 
chapt.  Ixiii :  3.  And  this  was  what  he  was  doing  now.  In  the  midst  of  the 
multitudes  he  came  to  save  he  was  left — alone.  There  was  not  an  earthly 
friend  to  stand  by  him — to  speak  a  kind  word  to  him — -or  to  show  him  any 
sympathy,  in  this  time  of  his  greatest  sorrow.  The  only  comfort  left  to 
him  was  the  thought  that  his  Father  in  heaven  had  not  forgotten  him. 

When  he  spoke  of  his  disciples  leaving  him  alone,  he  said,  "^nd yet, 
I  am  not  alone,  foy  the  Father  is  with  me."   St.  John  xvi :  32. 

Jesus  never  forgets  how  lonely  he  felt  at  this  time ;  and  he  loves  to 
come  near  and  comfort  us,  when  we  are  left  alone.  We  should  always 
remember,  at  such  times,  how  well  able  he  is  to  help  and  comfort  us. 

Here  are  some  simple  illustrations  of  the  blessing  which  those  find 
who  look  to  Jesus  in  their  loneliness. 

An  aged  Christian  was  carried  to  a  consumptives'  hospital  to  die.  He 
had  no  relation,  or  friend  to  be  near  him,  except  the  nurse  and  the  doctor. 
Yet  he  always  seemed  bright  and  happy.  The  doctor,  in  talking  with  him 
one  day,  asked  him  how  it  was  that  he  could  be  so  resigned  and  cheer- 
ful ?  His  reply  was — "When  I  am  able  to  think,  I  think  of  Jesus;  and 
when  I  am  not  able  to  think  of  him,  I  know  he  is  thinking  of  me." 

And  this  was  just  the  way  King  David  felt  when  he  said,  "  I  am  poor 
and  needy ;  yet  the  Lord  thinketh  upon  me." 

Not  Alone. — Little  Bessie  was  sitting  on  the  piazza.  The  nurse  came 
in,  and  found  her  there.  "Ah!  Bessie  dear,  all  alone  in  the  dark,"  said 
the  nurse,  "and  yet  not  afraid  ?" 

"  No,  indeed,"  said  little  Bessie,  "  for  I  am  not  all  alone.   God  is  here. 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


739 


I  look  up  and  see  the  stars,  and  God  seems  to  be  looking  down  at  me 
with  his  bright  eyes." 

"  To  be  sure,"  said  the  nurse,  "  but  God  is  up  in  the  sky,  and  that  is 
a  great  way  off." 

"  No,"  said  Bessie ;  "  God  is  here  too  ;  sometimes  He  seems  to  be 
clasping  me  in  his  arms,  and  then  I  feel  so  happy." 

The  Help  of  Feeling  yestts  Near. — There  was  a  poor  man  in  a  hospi- 
tal.    He  was  just  about  to  undergo  a  painful  and  dangerous  operation. 


Bethany  from  the  road  to  Jericho. 


They  laid  him  out  ready,  and  the  doctors  were  about  to  begin,  when  he 
asked  them  to  wait  a  moment.  "What  shall  we  wait  for?"  was  the 
inquiry  of  one  of  the  doctors. 

"  Oh,  wait  a  moment,"  said  he,  "  till  I  ask  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to 
stand  by  my  side.  I  know  it  will  be  dreadful  hard  to  bear  ;  but  it  will  be 
such  a  comfort  to  think  that  Jesus  is  near  me." 

One  thing  we  are  taught  by  the  betrayal  and  desertion  of  Christ,  is 
the  loneliness  of  his  sufferings. 


740  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Aiwthey  thing,  taught  its  by  tliis  part  of  our  Saviour  s  history  is — his 

WILLINGNESS    TO    SUFFER. 

We  often  make  up  our  minds  to  suffer  certain  things,  because  we 
have  no  power  to  help  it.  But  it  was  not  so  with  Jesus.  He  had  power 
enough,  to  have  saved  himself  from  suffering,  if  he  had  chosen  to  do  so. 
Sometime  before  this,  when  he  was  speaking  to  his  disciples  about  his 
death,  or,  as  he  called  it,  laying  down  his  life,  he  said — "  No  man  taketh  it 
from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  of  myself.  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I 
have  power  to  take  it  again!'  John  x:  i8.  And  he  showed  plainly  what 
his  power  was,  at  the  very  time  of  his  betrayal.  When  his  enemies  came 
to  take  him,  he  "went  forth,  and  said  unto  them.  Whom  seek  ye?  They 
answered  him,  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  I  am  he."  John 
xviii :  4.  But  he  put  such  wonderful  power  into  these  simple  words — "/ 
am  he" — that,  the  moment  they  heard  them,  the  whole  multitude,  soldiers, 
servants,  and  all,  fell  to  the  ground  before  him.  It  was  nothing  but  the 
power  of  Jesus  which  produced  this  strange  effect.  It  seems  as  if  Jesus 
did  this,  on  purpose  to  show  -that  the  mighty  power  by  which  he  had 
healed  the  sick,  and  raised  the  dead,  and  cast  out  devils,  and  walked  on 
the  water,  and  controlled  the  stormy  winds  and  waves,  was  in  him  still. 
He  was  not  taken  by  his  enemies  because  he  had  no  power  to  help  him- 
self. The  same  power  which  made  his  enemies  fall  to  the  ground  with  a 
word,  could  have  held  them  there,  while  he  walked  away;  or  could  have 
scattered  them,  as  the  chaff  is  scattered  by  the  whirlwind ;  or  could  have 
made  the  earth  open,  and  swallow  them  up.  But  he  did  not  choose  to 
exercise  it,  in  any  of  these  ways.  He  was  witting  to  suffer  for  us ;  and  so 
he  allowed  himself  to  be  taken. 

As  the  Jews  were  seizing  him  Peter  drew  his  sword,  and  smote  one 
of  the  servants  of  the  high-priest,  and  cut  off  his  right  ear.  Jesus  touched 
the  ear,  and  healed  it,  in  a  moment,  thus  showing  again  what  power  he 
had.  Then  he  told  Peter  to  put  up  his  sword,  and  said — "  Thinkest  thou 
that  I  cannot  now  pray  to  my  Father,  and  he  shall  presently  give  me  more 
than  twelve  legions  of  angels  ?"  St.  Mark  xxvi :  53.  A  full  Roman  legion 
contained  six  thousand  men.  Jesus  had  power  enough  in  his  own  arm, 
to  keep  himself  from  being  taken,  if  he  had  chosen  to  use  it.  And  more 
than  seventy  thousand  angels  would  have  flown,  with  lightning  speed,  to 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


741 


his  deliverance,  if  he  had  but  lifted  his  finger;  or  said — "come."  There  was 
so  much  power  in  himself,  and  so  much  power  in  heaven,  at  his  command, 
that  all  the  soldiers  Rome  ever  had,  could  not  have  taken  him,  unless  he 
had  been  willing  to  be  taken.  But  he  was  willing.  And  when  they  came 
to  crucify  him,  all  the  nails  ever  made  could  not  have  fastened  him  to  the 
cross,  unless  he  had  been  willing  to  be  fastened  there.  But  his  wonderful 
love  for  you,  and  for  me  and  for  a  world  of  lost  sinners,  made  him  willing 


Bethany  and  Mountains  of  Moab. 


to  be  fastened  there,  to  suffer,  and  to  die,  that  our  sins  might  be  pardoned, 
and  that  we  might  enter  heaven. 

And  it  is  the  thought  of  this  amazing  love  of  Christ,  making  him 
willing  to  suffer  for  us,  which  gives  to  the  story  of  the  cross,  the  marvel- 
lous power  it  has  to  melt  the  hardest  hearts,  and  win  the  worst  of  men  to 
his  service.  There  is  a  power  in  love,  to  do  what  nothing  else  can  do, — 
to  make  men  good  and  holy.  And  this  is  what  we  are  taught  when  told 
that — "Christ  suffered  for  sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring 
us  to  God."   I  Pet.  iii  :  18.     And  when  we  find  people  acting  in  this  way. 


7^2  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

towards  each  other,  in  every-day  life,  it  has  just  the  same  effect.  Here  is 
an  illustration  of  what  I  mean. 

We  may  call  it — TJie  Power  of  Love,  or  The  yustfor  the  Unjust. 

In  a  town  near  Paris,  is  a  school  for  teaching  and  training  poor 
homeless  boys,  who  are  found  wandering  about  the  streets  of  that  city, 
and  are  growing  up  in  idleness  and  crime. 

When  one  of  the  boys  breaks  the  rules  of  the  school,  and  deserves 
punishment,  the  rest  of  the  school  are  called  together,  like  a  jury,  to  decide 
what  shall  be  done  with  the  offender.  One  of  the  punishments  is  confine- 
ment, for  several  days,  in  a  dungeon,  called  "  the  black-hole."  The 
prisoner  is  put  on  a  short  allowance  of  food,  and,  of  course,  forfeits  all  the 
liberties  of  the  other  boys. 

After  the  boys  have,  in  this  way,  passed  sentence  on  one  of  their 
companions,  and  the  master  approves  of  it,  this  question  is  put  to  the  rest 
of  the  school : — "  Will  any  of  you  become  this  boy's  substitute  ?  /.  e.,  take 
his  place,  and  bear  his  punishment,  and  let  him  go  free  ?"  And  it  generally 
happens,  that  some  little  friend,  of  the  criminal,  comes  forward,  and  offers 
to  bear  the  punishment  instead  of  him.  Then  the  only  punishment,  the 
real  offender  has  to  bear,  is  to  carry  the  bread  and  water,  to  his  friend,  as 
long  as  he  is  confined  in  the  dungeon.  In  this  way,  it  generally  happens, 
that  the  most  stubborn,  and  hard-hearted  boys  are  melted  down,  by  seeing 
their  companions  willingly  suffering  for  them,  what  they  know  they 
deserved  to  suffer  themselves. 

Not  long  ago,  a  boy  about  nine  or  ten  years  old,  named  Pierre,  was 
received  into  this  school.  He  was  a  boy  whose  temper  and  conduct  were 
so  bad,  that  he  had  been  dismissed,  from  several  schools.  He  behaved 
pretty  well  at  first ;  but  soon  his  bad  temper  broke  out,  and  one  day,  he 
quarrelled  with  a  boy,  about  his  own  age,  named  Louis,  and  stabbed  him 
in  the  breast  with  a  knife. 

Louis  was  carried  bleeding  to  his  bed.  His  wound  was  painful,  but 
not  dangerous.  The  boys  were  assembled,  to  consult  about  what  was  to 
be  done,  with  Pierre.  Louis  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  boys,  and  they 
all  agreed,  at  once,  that  Pierre  should  be  turned  out  of  the  school,  and 
never  be  allowed  to  come  back. 

This  was  a  very  natural  sentence,  under  the  circumstances,  but  the 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


743 


master  thought  it  was  not  a  wise  one.  He  said  that  if  Pierre  was  turned 
out  of  school,  he  would  grow  worse  and  worse,  and  probably  end  his  life 
on  the  gallows.  He  asked  them  to  think  again.  They  then  agreed  upon 
a  long  imprisonment,  without  saying  how  long  it  was  to  be.  They  were 
asked  as  usual,  if  any  one  was  willing  to  go  to  prison  instead  of  Pierre. 
But  no  one  offered,  and  he  was  marched  off  to  prison. 

After  some  days,  when  the  boys  were  all  together,  the  master  asked 
again  if  any  one 
was  willing  to  take 
Pierre's  place.  A 
feeble  voice  was 
heard,  saying — "I 
will."  To  the  sur- 
prise of  every  one 
this  proved  to  be 
Louis — the  wound- 
ed boy,  who  was 
just  getting  over  the 
effect  of  his  wound. 
Louis  went  to  the 
dungeon,  and  took 
the  place  of  the  boy 
who  had  tried  to  kill 
him ;  while  Pierre 
was  set  at  liberty. 
For  many  days  he 
went  to  the  prison 
carrying  the  bread  and  water  to  Louis,  but  with  a  feeling  of  pride  and 
anger  in  his  heart. 

But  at  last  he  could  bear  it  no  longer.  The  sight  of  his  kind-hearted, 
generous  friend,  still  pale  and  feeble  from  the  effects  of  his  wound,  pining 
in  prison — living  on  bread  and  water — and  willingly  suffering  all  this  for 
him — who  had  tried  to  murder  him — this  was  more  than  he  could  bear. 
His  fierce  temper,  and  stubborn  pride  broke  down  under  it.  The 
generous  love  of   Louis    had   fairly  conquered    him.     He    went    to    the 


'  I  am  not  all  alone.     God  is  here." 


744  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

master,  fell  down  at  his  feet,  and  with  bitter  tears  confessed  his  fault, 
begged  to  be  forgiven,  and  promised  to  be  a  good  boy. 

He  kept  his  promise,  and  became  one  of  the  best  boys  in  the  school. 

And  so  it  is  the  love  of  Christ  in  being  willing  to  suffer  for  us,  that 
wins  the  hearts  and  lives  of  men  to  him,  and  gives  to  the  story  of  the 
cross  all  its  power. 

The  willingness  of  Christ  to  suffer  is  the  second  thing  taught  us  by 
the  history  of  the  betrayal  and  desertion. 

These  are  the  two  things  taught  us  about  Jesus,  by  this  history ;  his 
loneliness  in  suffering,  and  his  willingness  to  suffer. 

But,  there  are  two  things  taught  us  about  Judas,  also,  by  this  history. 

One  of  these  is — the  power  of  sin. 

The  sin  of  Judas  was  covetousness,  or  "  the  love  of  money."  The 
apostle  Paul  tells  us  that  this — "  is  the  root  of  all  evil."  i  Tim.  vi :  lo. 
The  little  company  of  the  apostles  made  Judas  their  treasurer.  He  carried 
the  purse  for  them.  He  received  the  money  that  was  contributed  for 
their  expenses,  and  paid  out  what  was  needed,  from  day  to  day.  We 
may  suppose  that,  soon  after  his  appointment  to  this  office,  he  found  him- 
self tempted  to  take  some  of  this  money,  for  his  own  use.  Perhaps  he 
only  took  a  penny  or  two,  at  first,  but  then  he  soon  went  on  to  take  more. 
Now,  if  he  had  watched,  and  striven  against  this  temptation,  at  the  very 
first,  and  had  prayed  for  strength  to  resist  it,  what  a  different  man  he 
might  have  been !  There  is  an  old  proverb  which  says—"  Resist  the 
beginnings."  Our  only  safety  is  in  doing  this.  Judas  neglected  to  resist 
the  beginning  of  his  temptation,  and  the  end  of  it  was  his  ruin.  We 
never  can  tell  what  may  come  out  of  one  sin,  that  is  not  resisted. 

If  you  want  to  sink  a  ship,  at  sea,  it  is  not  necessary  to  make  half  a 
dozen  big  holes  in  her  side ;  one  little  hole,  which  you  might  stop  with 
your  finger,  if  left  alone,  will  be  enough  to  sink  that  ship.  Judas  gave 
himself  up  to  the  power  of  one  sin,  and  that,  led  him  on  to  betray  his 
Master. 

Let  us  look  at  some  illustrations  of  the  power  of  one  sin. 

Claras  Obstinacy. — Little  Clara  Cole  was  saying  her  prayers,  one 
evening  before  going  to  bed.  Part  of  her  evening  prayer  was  the  simple 
hymn — "And  now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep."     When  she  came  to  the  last 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


745 


line  she  stopped  short,  and  would  not  say  it.  "  Go  on,  my  dear,  and 
finish  it,"  said  her  mother.  "  I  can't,"  she  said,  although  she  knew  it  per- 
fectly well,  and  had  said  it  hundreds  of  times  before.  "  Oh,  yes  !  go  right 
on,  my  child." 

"  No;  I  can't."  "  My  dear  child,  what  makes  you  talk  so?  Say  the 
last  line  directly." 

But,  in  spite  of  her  mother's  positive  commands,  and  loving  en- 
treaties, Clara  was  obstinate,  and  would  not  do  it.  "  Very  well,"  said 
Mrs.  Cole  at  last:  "you  can  get  into  bed  ;  but  you  will  not  get  up  till  you 
have  said  that  line." 


View  from  the  spot  where  Christ  beheld  the  city  and  wept  over  it. 


Next  morning  Mrs.  Cole  went  into  Clara's  room,  as  soon  as  she 
heard  her  stir.  "Now,  Clara,"  she  said  pleasantly,  "say  the  line,  and 
jump  up." 

"  I  can't  say  it,"  said  Clara,  obstinately,  and  she  actually  lay  in  bed  all 
that  day,  and  part  of  the  next  rather  than  give  up.  The  second  day  was 
her  birth-day,  and  a  number  of  little  girls  had  been  invited,  in  the  evening, 
to  her  birth-day  party.  That  little,  strong,  cruel  will  of  hers  held  out 
till  three  o'clock;  then  she  said,  "I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take," 
and  bursting  into  tears  asked  her  mother's  forgiveness. 

How  much   power  there  was  in  that   one    sin !      No   one    can    tell 


746  THE     LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

what  trouble  it  might  have  caused  that  poor  child,  if  she  had  not  been 
taught  to  conquer  it.     But  after  that  it  never  gave  her  much  trouble. 

One  Drop  of  Evil. — "I  don't  see  why  you  won't  let  me  play  with 
Willie  Hunt,"  said  Walter  Kirk,  with  a  frown  and  a  pout.  "  I  know  he 
doesn't  always  mind  his  mother.  He  smokes  segars,  and  once  in  a  while 
he  swears  just  a  little;  but  I've  been  brought  up  better  than  that;  he 
won't  hurt  me.     I  might  do  him  some  good." 

"  Walter,"  said  his  mother,  "  take  this  glass  of  pure  water,  and  put 
just  one  drop  of  ink  into  it." 

Walter  did  so,  and  then  in  a  moment  exclaimed,  "  Oh !  mother,  who 
would  have  thought  that  one  drop  would  blacken  a  whole  glass  so!" 

"  Yes,  it  has  changed  the  color  of  the  whole.  And  now  just  put  one 
drop  of  clear  water  in  it,  and  see  if  you  can  undo  what  has  been  done." 

"Why,  mother,  one  drop,  or  a  dozen,  or  fifty  won't  do  that." 

"  That's  so,  my  son ;  and  that  is  the  reason  why  I  don't  want  you  to 
play  with  Willie  Hunt.  For  one  drop  of  his  evil  ways,  like  the  drop  of 
ink  in  the  glass,  may  do  you  harm  that  never  can  be  undone." 

Here  we  see  the  power  of  a  single  sin. 

One  IVorm  Did  It. — One  day  a  gentleman  in  England,  went  out  with 
a  friend  who  was  visiting  him,  to  take  a  walk  in  the  park.  As  they  were 
walking  along,  he  drew  his  friend's  attention  to  a  large  sycamore  tree, 
withered  and  dead. 

"  That  fine  tree,"  said  he,  "  was  killed  by  a  single  worm." 

In  answer  to  his  friend's  inquiries,  he  said, 

"  About  two  years  ago,  that  tree  was  as  healthy  as  any  in  the  park. 
One  day  I  was  walking  out  with  a  friend,  as  we  are  walking  now,  when  I 
noticed  a  wood-worm  about  three  inches  long,  forcing  its  way  under  the 
bark  of  the  tree.  My  friend,  who  knew  a  great  deal  about  trees,  said — 
'  Let  that  worm  alone,  and  it  will  kill  this  tree.'  I  did  not  think  it  possible, 
and  said—'  well,  we'll  let  the  black  worm  try,  and  see  what  it  can  do.'  " 

The  worm  tunnelled  its  way  under  the  bark.  The  next  summer  the 
leaves  of  the  tree  dropped  off,  very  early.  This  year  the  tree  has  not  put 
out  a  single  green  leaf     It  is  a  dead  tree.     That  one  worm  killed  it. 

Here  we  see  the  power  of  one  sin.  The  third  lesson  taught  us  by  the 
history  of  the  betrayal  and  desertion,  is — the  power  of  sin. 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


747 


The  fourth  lesson  taught  tis  by  this  history  is — the  growth  of  sin. 
Solomon  says,  "The  beginning  of  strife" — and  the  same  is  true  of  all 
sin — "  is  as  when  one  letteth  out  water."  Prov.  xvii :  14.  There  is  a  bank 
of  earth,  that  keeps  the  water  of  a  mill-dam,  in  its  place.  You  notice, 
one  particular  spot, 
where  the  bank 
seems  weak.  The 
water  is  beginning 
to  make  its  way 
through.  At  first, 
it  only  just  trickles 
down,  drop  by  drop. 
By  and  by,  the 
drops  come  faster. 
Now,  they  run  into 
each  other,  and 
make  a  little  rill. 
Every  moment  the 
breach  grows  wider, 
and  deeper,  till,  at 
last,  there  is  a  roar- 
ing torrent  rushing 
through,  that  noth- 
ing can  stop. 

Every  sin  is  like 
a  seed.  If  it  be 
planted  in  the  heart, 
and  allowed  to 
spring  up,  no  one 
can  tell  what  it  will 

grow  into.  Suppose,  that  you  and  I,  knew  nothing  about  the  growth  of 
trees.  We  are  sitting  under  the  wide-spreading  branches  of  a  vast  oak 
tree.  A  friend  picks  up  a  tiny,  little  acorn,  and  holding  it  up  before  us, 
says — "  This  giant  tree,  under  whose  shade  we  are  sitting,  has  all  grown 
out  of  a  litde  acorn,  like  this."     It  would  seem  impossible  to  us.      We 


Sepulchre  in  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  called  "Absalom's  Pillar." 


748  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


could  hardly  be  made  to  believe  it.     But  we  need  no  argument  to  prove 
this.     We  know  it  is  so. 

But  the  growth  of  sin,  in  the  hearts  and  lives  of  men,  is  quite  as  sur- 
prising as  the  growth  of  trees  in  the  forest.  We  see  this  in  the  case  of 
Judas.  Suppose  that  we  could  have  seen  him  when  he  first  let  his  love  of 
money  lead  him  to  do  wrong.  Perhaps  he  only  stole  a  penny  or  two,  at 
first.  That  was  not  much.  And  then,  suppose  we  had  not  seen  Judas 
again,  till  the  night  in  which  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  commit  that 
greatest  and  most  awful  of  all  sins — the  sin  of  betraying  his  Master!  what 
a  wonderful  change  we  should  have  seen  in  him !  The  growth  of  a  river 
from  a  rill — of  a  giant  oak  from  a  tiny  acorn — would  not  be  half  so  sur- 
prising as  the  monstrous  growth  in  wickedness  that  we  should  have  seen 
in  Judas.  When  we  saw  him  committing  his  first  sin,  he  was  like  a  little 
child.  When  we  saw  him  committing  his  last  awful  sin — the  child  had 
sprung  up  into  a  huge,  horrible  giant.  Jesus  said  he  had  become  a  devil. 
St.  John  vi :  70.  How  fearful  it  is  to  think  of  such  growth  in  wickedness! 
And  yet,  if  we  allow  the  seed  of  sin  to  be  sown  in  our  hearts,  and  to  spring 
up  there,  we  cannot  tell  but  what  its  growth  may  be  as  fearful  in  us,  as  it 
was  in  Judas. 

Let  us  look  at  some  illustrations  of  the  growth  of  sin. 

The  Growth  of  Lying. — Some  time  ago  a  little  boy  told  his  first  false- 
hood. It  was  like  a  solitary  little  thistle  seed,  sown  in  the  mellow  soil  of 
his  heart.  No  eye  but  that  of  God  saw  him  as  he  planted  it.  But,  it 
sprung  up — O,  how  quickly !  and,  in  a  little  time,  another  seed  dropped 
from  it  into  the  ground,  and  then  another,  and  another,  each  in  its  turn 
bearing  more  and  more  of  those  troublesome  thistles.  And  now,  his 
heart  is  like  a  field  of  which  the  weeds  have  taken  entire  possession.  It 
is  as  difficult  for  him  to  speak  the  truth,  as  it  is  for  the  gardener  to  clear 
his  land  of  the  ugly  thistles,  that  have  once  gained  a  rooting  in  the  soil. 

The  Snake  and  the  Spider. — A  black  snake,  about  a  foot  long,  lay 
sunning  itself  on  a  garden-bed  one  summer's  day.  A  spider  had  hung 
out  his  web,  on  the  branches  of  a  bush,  above  where  the  snake  lay.  He 
saw  the  huge  monster  lying  there,  for  huge  indeed  he  was  compared  to 
the  little  spider,  and  he  concluded  to  take  him  prisoner.  But,  you  ask,  is 
not  the  snake  a  thousand  times  stronger  than  the  spider  ?     Certainly  he 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


749 


~^'i;^^___ 

BPS5IIZ1- 


is.  Then  how  can  he  take  him  prisoner  ?  Well,  let  us  see  how  he  did  it. 
The  spider  spun  out  a  fine,  slender  thread.  He  slipped  down,  and 
touched  the  snake  with  it.  It  stuck.  He  took  another,  and  touched  him 
with  that,  and  that  stuck  too.  He  went  on  industriously.  The  snake  lay 
quiet.  Another,  and  another  thread,  was  fastened  to  him,  till  there  were 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  them.  And,  by  and  by,  those  feeble  threads, 
not  one  of  which  was  strong  enough  to  hold  the  smallest  fly,  when  greatly 
multiplied,  were  strong  enough  to  make  the  snake  a  prisoner.  The  spider 
webbed  him  round  and  round,  till,  at  last,  when  the  snake  tried  to  move, 
he  found  it  w^as  impossible.  The  web  had 
grown  strong  out  of  its  weakness.  By 
putting  one  strand  here,  and  another  there, 
and  drawing,  first  on  one,  and  then  on  an- 
other, the  spider  had  the  snake  bound  fast, 
from  head  to  tail,  to  be  a  supply  of  food  for 
himself  and  family,  for  a  long  while. 

And  so,  if  we  give  way  even  to  little 
sins,  they  may  make  us  their  prisoner  as 
the  spider  did  the  snake,  and  before  we  are 
aware  of  it,  we  may  be  bound  hand  and 
foot,  and  unable  to  help  ourselves. 

Sin  like  a  JVliirlpool. — The  Columbia 
river,  in  Oregon,  has  a  great  bend  in  it,  at 
one  place  where  it  passes  through  a  moun- 
tain range.  When  the  water  in  the  river  is 
high,  there  is  a  dangerous  whirlpool  in  this 

part  of  the  river.  An  officer,  connected  with  the  United  States  Exploring 
Expedition,  was  going  down  this  river,  some  years  ago,  in  a  boat  which  was 
manned  by  ten  Canadians.  When  they  reached  this  bend  in  the  river,  they 
thought  the  water  was  so  low,  that  the  whirlpool  would  not  be  dangerous. 
So  they  concluded  to  go  down  the  river,  in  the  boat,  as  this  would  save  them 
the  labor  of  carrying  the  boat,  with  its  baggage,  across  the  portage,  to  the 
place  where  they  would  take  the  river  again  below  the  rapids.  But,  the 
officer  was  put  on  shore,  to  walk  across  the  portage.     He  had  to  climb  up 


""^Js^, — i^. 


Jerusalem;  Fountain  of  the  \'irgin. 


some  high  rocks.     From  the  top  of  these  rocks  he  had  a  full  view  of  the 


750 


THE    LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


river  beneath,  and  of  the  boat  in  her  passage.  At  first,  she  seemed  to  skim 
over  the  waters  like  a  bird.  But,  soon  he  saw  they  were  in  trouble.  The 
struggles  of  the  oarsmen,  and  the  shouts  of  the  man  at  the  helm,  showed 
that  there  was  danger  from  the  whirlpool,  when  they  thought  there  would 
be  none.  He  saw  the  men  bend  on  the  oars  with  all  their  might.  But,  in 
spite  of  all,  the  boat  lost  its  straightforward  course,  and  was  drawn  into  the 
whirl.  It  swept  round,  and  round,  with  increasing  force  and  swiftness.  No 
effort  they  could  make  had  the  least  control  of  it.  A  few  more  turns,  each 
more  rapid  than  the  rest,  and  at  last,  the  centre  was  reached  ;  and  the  boat. 


Jerusalem  ;  St.  Stephen's  Gate. 

with  all  her  crew,  was  drawn  into  the  dreadful  whirlpool,  and  disappeared. 
Only  one,  of  the  ten  bodies,  was  found  afterwards,  in  the  river  below; 
and  that,  was  all  torn  and  mangled,  by  the  rocks,  against  which  it  had 
been  dashed. 

Just  such  a  whirlpool  is  sin.  Judas  was  drawn  into  it  when  he  first 
gave  way  to  his  covetousness,  and  began  to  steal  money  from  the  purse 
with  which  he  was  entrusted.  Like  the  men  in  the  boat,  he  soon  lost  all 
control  of  himself,  and  was  carried  round  and  round,  till  at  last  he  was 
"  drowned  in  destruction  and  perdition." 


THE   BETRAYAL    AND    DESERTION. 


751 


And  thus  we  have  considered  the  history  of  the  betrayal,  and  the 
lessons  that  it  teaches.  Two  of  these  lessons  refer  to  Jesus.  They  show 
us  the  loneliness  of  his  sufferings,  and  his  willingness  to  suffer.  Two  of 
them  refer  to  Judas.     They  show  us  \ht  power,  and  the  growth  of  sin. 

There  is  a  beautiful  Collect  in  the  Prayer  Book,  which  is  very  suit- 
able to  use  in  connection  with  such  a  subject  as  this.  It  is  the  Collect  for 
the  Fourth  Sunday  after  Epiphany,  and  teaches  us  to  pray  thus : 

"  O  God,  who  knowest  us  to  be  set 
in  the  midst  of  so  many,  and  great  dan- 
gers, that  by  reason  of  the  frailty  of  our 
nature,  we  cannot  always  stand  upright ; 
grant  to  us  such  strength  and  protection, 
as  may  support  us  in  all  dangers,  and 
carry  us  through  all  temptations,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen." 

The  blessings  asked  for  in  this  prayer 
are  just  what  we  need  amidst  the  dangers 
and  temptations  that  surround  us  in  this 
evil  world.  If  we  only  obtain  for  our- 
selves "the  strength  and  protection "  here 
prayed  for,  and  which  God  has  promised 
to  give  to  those  who  truly  seek  it,  we 
need  not  be  afraid  either  of  the  power,  or 
the  growth  of  sin.  This  strength  will  be 
a  safeguard  to  us  against  the  power  of 
sin,  and    this    protection  will   check  the 

growth  of  sin  in  our  hearts.  It  will  indeed,  "support  us  in  all  dangers, 
and  carry  us  through  all  temptations."  If  Judas  had  used  such  a  prayer 
as  this,  and  had  earnestly  sought  "the  strength  and  protection"  here 
spoken  of,  he  would  never  have  been  known  as — "the  traitor;"  and  the 
end  of  his  earthly  life  would  never  have  been  wound  up  with  this  shame- 
ful sentence — "he  went  and  hanged  himself."  But,  as  wrecks  along  the 
shore  show  us  where  the  danger  lies,  so,  when  we  see  the  wrecks  we 
should  try  to  avoid  the  rocks  on  which  they  struck,  and  go  on  our  way 
in  safety. 


Pool  of  Siloam,  from  the  South  East. 


752 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


I  know  not  how  to  finish  this  subject  better,  than  for  each  of  us  to 
sav,  in  the  words  of  the  hymn, — 

"  My  soul,  be  on  thy  guard; 
Ten  thousand  foes  arise ; 
And  hosts  of  sins  are  pressing  hard 
To  draw  thee  from  the  skies. 


O  watch,  and  fight,  and  pray ; 

The  battle  ne'er  give  o'er ; 
Renew  it  boldly  every  day. 

And  help  divine  implore." 


Peter's  Denial  of  Christ. 


IHE     CROV.'N     CF     THOhNo. 


Christ  led  forth. 


THE   TRIAL. 


'E  come  now  to  another  of  the  dark,  and  sad 
chapters  in  the  history  of  our  Saviour's  life.  We 
have  seen  how  he  was  betrayed  by  one  of  his 
disciples,  and  forsaken  by  all  the  rest.  Then  his 
enemies  seized  him,  and  led  him  away  to  those 
who  had  sent  them — the  priests  and  rulers  of  the 
Jewish  church.  We  speak  of  what  then  took 
place  as  the  trial  of  our  Saviour.  But  it  was 
only  the  form,  or  mockery  of  a  trial.  It  was  not 
conducted,  at  all,  in  the  way  in  which  regular 
trials  were  reauired  to  be  conducted  among-  the 
Jews.  The  simple  truth  is  that  the  enemies  of 
Jesus  had  made  up  their  minds  to  put  him  to  death,  and  they  merely  pre- 
tended to  have  a  trial  because  they  were  afraid  to  do  it  without. 

And  in  studying  this  part  of  the  life  of  our  Saviour,  we  may  look, 
very  briefly,  at  the  history  of  his  trial ;  and  then,  at  some  of  the  lessons 
that  it  teaches  us. 

7S3 


754  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

When  the  band  of  soldiers  and  servants  had  seized  Jesus,  and  made 
him  prisoner,  they  led  him  away  to  the  house  of  Caiaphas  the  high-priest. 
He  had  gathered  together  the  chief-priests  and  other  members  of  the 
Jewish  high  council,  called  the  Sanhedrim.  This  was  the  highest  court 
among  the  Jews.  It  was  composed  of  seventy,  or  seventy-two  of  the 
oldest,  the  most  learned,  and  honorable  men  of  the  nation.  The  high- 
priest  was  generally  the  president  of  this  council.  Their  usual  place  of 
meeting  was  in  one  of  the  courts  of  the  temple.  But,  on  special  occasions, 
they  met  in  the  house  of  the  high-priest,  as  they  did  now.  Jesus  was 
brought  before  this  council.  Here  they  tried  to  bring  some  charge  against 
him  of  teaching  false  doctrine,  or  of  doing  something  contrary  to  the  laws 
of  their  church.  But  though  they  had  hired  many  false  witnesses  against 
him,  the  witnesses  did  not  agree  in  their  testimony,  and  they  found  it 
impossible  to  prove  anything  wrong  against  him. 

Then  the  high-priest  made  a  solemn  appeal  to  him,  and  asked  him  to 
say  whether  he  was  the  Son  of  God.  "Jesus  saith  unto  them — I  am. 
Hereafter  shall  the  Son  of  man  sit  on  the  right  hand  of  the  power  of 
God."  Then  they  said  he  was  guilty  of  blasphemy,  and  deserved  to  be 
put  to  death.  St.  Math,  xxvi :  59-66 ;  St.  Mark  xiv  :  55-64 ;  John  xviii : 
19-24. 

After  this,  the  servants  of  the  priests  blindfolded  Jesus,  and  began  to 
mock  him,  to  smite  him,  to  spit  on  him,  and  to  say  all  manner  of  insult- 
ing, and  blasphemous  things  to  him.  St.  Math,  xxvi :  67,  68 ;  St.  Mark 
xiv  :  65 ;  St.  Luke  xxii :  62-65. 

Then  the  priests,  and  other  members  of  the  council,  seem  to  have 
gone  home,  leaving  Jesus  to  the  mockery  and  insults  of  the  servants.  As 
soon  as  it  was  morning  the  priests  and  scribes  met  again.  They  asked 
him  once  more  if  he  were  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God.  Again  he  declared 
that  he  was.  Then  they  arose  and  led  him  to  Pilate,  the  Roman  governor, 
to  get  his  consent  for  them  to  put  him  to  death.  This  was  necessary, 
because  Jerusalem  was  then  under  the  power  of  the  Romans,  and  no  one, 
but  the  governor  whom  they  appointed,  had  the  power  of  putting  a 
prisoner  to  death,  according  to  law. 

But,  when  the  priests  brought  Christ  before  Pilate,  they  changed  their 
plan.     They  did  not  accuse  him  of  blasphemy  now,  because  they  knew 


THE    TRIAL. 


755 


very  well,  that  Pilate  would 
not  care  at  all  about  that. 
So  they  pretended  that  he 
had  been  trying  to  stir  up 
the  people  in  opposition  to 
the  Roman  government. 
This  was  a  very  serious 
charge,  and  one,  for  which, 
if  it  could  be  proved,  the 
punishment  would  be  death. 

But,  they  could  not  prove 
their  charge.  As  soon  as 
Pilate  looked  on  Jesus,  he 
seemed  to  be  satisfied  that 
he  was  an  innocent  man. 
Then  he  took  him  aside, 
and  had  a  long  conversa- 
tion with  him,  alone  by 
himself.  The  result  of  this 
was  that  Pilate  was  per- 
fectly satisfied  of  the  inno- 
cence of  Jesus,  and  was  re- 
solved to  release  him. 

But,  on  returning  to  the 
judgment  hall,  and  telling 
the  Jews  what  he  wished 
to  do,  he  found  that  they 
would  not  listen  to  this,  for 
a  moment.  Thus  he  was 
in  trouble,  and  knew  not 
what  to  do.  Just  then  some- 
thing was  said  about  Gali- 
lee. This  was  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Palestine,  and 
out    of    the    dominion    of 


756  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

Pilate.  Herod  was  the  governor  of  Galilee.  He  happened  to  be  in 
Jerusalem  at  that  time.  Pilate  resolved  to  send  his  prisoner  to  him,  and 
hoped,  in  this  way,  to  get  rid  of  any  further  trouble  in  connection  with 
him. 

So  Jesus  was  sent  to  Herod — the  Herod  under  whose  dominion  John 
was  beheaded.  He  asked  him  many  questions;  but  Jesus  declined  to 
answer  one  of  them.  Then  Herod,  with  his  men  of  war,  mocked  him,  and 
sent  him  back  to  Pilate,  only  saying  that  he  found  no  fault  in  him.  St. 
Math,  xxvii  :  i,  2,  11-14;  Mark  xv  :  1-5;  Luke  xxiii:  1-12;  John  xviii : 
28-38. 

After  this  Pilate  made  several  attempts  to  release  Jesus  ;  but  the  Jews 
were  so  fierce  in  their  opposition,  that  he  was  afraid  to  do  it. 

Then  he  thought  he  saw  his  way  out  of  the  difficulty  by  the  help  of  a 
custom  that  had  prevailed,  in  connection  with  the  feast  of  the  Passover, 
which  was  then  about  to  be  kept.  He  had  been  in  the  habit  of  allowing 
the  Jews,  to  ask  for  the  release  of  some  prisoner,  who  deserved  to  be  put 
to  death,  and  of  setting  him  at  liberty,  when  they  requested  it,  while 
they  were  keeping  the  feast.  There  was  a  prisoner  then  in  Jerusalem, 
named  Barabbas.  He  had  been  guilty  of  murder,  and  other  dreadful 
crimes.  Pilate  thought  that  when  he  should  bring  Jesus  and  Barabbas 
before  the  people,  side  by  side,  and  offer  to  release  to  them  whoever  they 
should  choose,  they  would  be  sure  to  ask  for  the  gentle,  loving  Jesus,  in 
preference  to  a  wretched,  blood-stained  murderer.  And  no  doubt  they 
would,  if  they  had  been  left  to  their  own  choice.  But  they  were  not  so 
left.  The  priests  and  scribes  had  made  up  their  minds  that  Jesus  should 
be  put  to  death.  So  they  went  about  among  the  people,  when  this  offer 
was  made,  and  persuaded  them  to  cry  out — "  Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas." 

Thus  Pilate  was  disappointed  again. 

While  this  was  going  on,  his  wife  sent  a  message  to  him,  saying  she 
had  had  a  dream  about  this  prisoner  Jesus,  which  troubled  her  greatly. 
She  said  he  was  a  just  and  good  man,  and  begged  her  husband  not  to 
have  anything  to  do  with  putting  him  to  death.  This  made  Pilate  feel 
still  more  resolved  than  ever  to  let  him  ago. 

Then  he  told  the  Jews  that  Jesus  had  done  no  wrong,  and  he  would 
therefore  chastise  him  and  let  him  go.     This  made  the  Jews  very  furious. 


The  Humiliation  of  Christ. 


757 


THE    TRIAL.  759 


They  told  Pilate  that  if  he  let  this  man  go,  it  would  show  that  he  was  not 
a  true  friend  of  the  emperor,  Caesar.  They  gave  him  to  understand  that 
they  would  complain  of  him  to  the  emperor,  and  in  this  way  he  would  be 
likely  to  lose  his  office.  This  alarmed  him  so,  that  he  could  stand  out  no 
longer.  He  let  the  Jews  have  their  way,  and  delivered  Jesus  up  to  them, 
to  be  crucified. 

Then  the  soldiers  took  Jesus,  and  stripped  him  of  his  own  clothes, 
and  put  a  purple  robe  upon  him ;  and  platted  a  crown  of  thorns  and  put  it 
on  his  head,  and  bowed  the  knee  before  him  in  shameful  mockery,  and 
cried — "  Hail !  king  of  the  Jews !"  Then  they  smote  him  with  the  palms 
of  their  hands,  and  with  the  reed,  and  showed  their  utmost  contempt  by 
spitting  on  him.  Then  Pilate  had  him  brought  forth  before  the  Jews, 
wearing  the  crown  of  thorns,  and  the  purple  robe,  and  pointing  to  him  in 
scorn,  said — "  Behold  the  man  !     Behold  your  king!" 

"And  he  delivered  him  to  be  crucified."  St.  Math,  xxvii :  11-30;  St. 
Mark  xv  :  1-20;  St.  Luke  xxiii :  1-25;  St.  John  xviii :  13-24,  28-40;  xix: 
1-16. 

Such  is  the  history  of  our  Saviour's  trial. 

And  now,  we  may  go  on  to  speak  oi  five  lessons  taught  us  by  this 
history. 

The  first  lesson  is  about — the  weak  ruler. 

We  refer,  of  course  here  to  Pontius  Pilate.  We  know  very  little 
about  him  beyond  what  we  learn  from  the  gospels.  He  belonged  to  a 
highly  honorable  Roman  family.  He  had  been  the  governor  of  Judea  for 
several  years.  He  was  not  a  very  cruel  or  oppressive  ruler,  although  he 
sometimes  did  hasty  and  unjust  things.  Our  Saviour  referred  to  one  of 
these  when  he  spoke  of — "  the  Galileans  whose  blood  Pilate  had  mingled 
with  their  sacrifices."  We  know  none  of  the  particulars  of  this  event. 
But,  from  reading  the  history  of  our  Lord's  trial  we  can  see,  very  well, 
what  sort  of  a  man  Pilate  was.  He  was  a  weak  man.  I  do  not  mean 
weak  in  body,  but  weak  in  character.  He  could  see  what  was  right;  and 
was  willing  to  do  it,  if  it  could  be  done  without  injury  to  himself 

When  Jesus  was  brought  before  him,  as  a  prisoner,  he  soon  saw  that 
he  was  an  innocent  man,  and  that  it  would  be  wrong  to  put  him  to  death. 
But,  at  the  same  time,  he  saw  that  unless  he  did  put  him  to  death,  he 


76o  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

would  give  great  offence  to  the  Jews.  And  if  he  offended  them,  he  was 
afraid  they  would  complain  of  him  to  the  emperor,  and  he  would  lose  his 
office.  And  so  his  fear  led  him  to  condemn  an  innocent  man  to  death, 
although  he  knew  it  was  wrong  to  do  so.  He  tried  to  get  rid  of  the  guilt, 
connected  with  this  act,  by  washing  his  hands  before  the  Jews,  and  saying 
"  I  am  innocent  of  the  blood  of  this  just  person  :  see  ye  to  it."  But  this 
was  very  foolish.  Why,  all  the  waters  in  the  ocean  could  not  wash  away 
the  stain  of  the  Saviour's  blood  from  the  hands  of  Pilate.  He  knew  that 
the  right  thing  for  him  to  do  was  to  let  Jesus  go :  but  he  was  afraid  to  do 
it.     This  shows  what  a  weak  man  he  was. 

And  the  wrong  that  he  did,  on  this  occasion,  did  not  save  him  from 
the  dangers  that  he  dreaded.  The  Jews  did  accuse  him  to  the  emperor, 
for  some  other  things.  He  lost  his  office  in  disgrace.  And  of  what  hap- 
pened to. him  after  losing  his  office,  different  accounts  are  given.  One  of 
the  stories  about  him  is  that  he  retired  into  Switzerland,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  days  on  a  mountain,  near  the  city  of  Lucerne.  This  mountain 
is  named  Pilatus  after  him.  The  story  says  that  he  lived  a  very  unhappy 
life  there,  and  that  he  finally  drowned  himself  in  a  lake,  on  the  top  of  that 
mountain.  But  the  things  for  us  to  remember  about  Pilate  are  that  he 
was  a  weak  man  ;  that  he  committed  a  dreadful  sin,  when  he  condemned 
Jesus  to  death ;  and  that  the  punishment  of  his  sin  which  followed  him  in 
this  life,  was  the  loss  of  his  office,  and  the  deep  disgrace  which  it  has 
fastened  on  his  name.  Wherever  the  two  great  creeds  of  the  church  are 
repeated,  all  over  the  earth,  we  hear  it  publicly  proclaimed  that  Jesus — 
"  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate." 

We  see  plainly  illustrated  in  Pilate's  case  the  punishment  that  fol- 
lowed from  his  weakness,  in  not  doing  what  he  knew  to  be  right.  If  we 
have  the  courage  to  refuse  to  do  what  is  wrong,  we  shall  always  be 
rewarded  for  it. 

Brave  Charlie. — Two  little  boys  were  walking  along  a  village  street, 
one  day,  when  they  stopped  before  the  garden  connected  with  a  gentleman's 
house,  and  gazed  with  admiration  on  the  many  beautiful  flowers  that  were 
growing  there.  Presently  the  smaller  of  the  two  boys  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  how 
I  wish  I  had  one  or  two  of  those  beautiful  roses,  to  take  home  to  my  sick 
sister.     Every  day  she  says  she  wishes  she  could  see  some  flowers  again." 


THE    TRIAL. 


761 


"Then,  why  don't  you  take  some  of  them,  you  little  goose,"  said  the 
other  boy.  "  Here,  I  am  taller  than  you,  and  I  can  reach  over  the  fence. 
I'll  get  some  for  both  of  us." 

"  No,  no,  Tim/'  said  the  little  boy,  seizing  his  arm ;  "  1  wouldn't  steal 


1 1  jjUM^tt  :c 


^'onf/jpr^oMNs^ 


Pilate  had  a  long  conversation  with  Jesus. 


even  a  flower,  if  I  never  had  one  in  the  world  ;  but  I'll  go  in  and  ask  the 
lady  for  a  rose  for  Ellen." 

"Well,  you'll  only  get  sent  away  for  your  pains,"  said  the  older  boy; 
"  for  my  part,  I  shall  help  myself" 

But,  just  as  Tim  was  reaching  over  the   fence,  and  had  seized  a 


762  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

branch  of  the  beautiful  roses,  the  gardener  spied  him,  and  dropping  a 
basket  that  was  in  his  hand,  he  rushed  after  the  boy  and  caught  him.  He 
gave  him  a  sound  flogging,  and  told  him  that  if  he  ever  found  him  doing 
that  again,  he  would  have  him  put  in  jail  as  a  thief. 

In  the  meantime  little  Charlie  had  gone  up  the  steps,  and  rung  the 
door-bell.     The  door  was  opened  immediately  by  a  kind-looking  lady. 

"  Please,  ma'am,  will  you  give  me  a  rose  or  two  for  my  sick  sistei  ?' 
asked  Charlie. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  my  little  man,"  said  the  lady.  "  I  have  been  sitting  at 
the  window,  and  I  heard  your  conversation  with  the  boy  who  wished  you 
to  steal  some  of  my  roses ;  and  I'm  very  glad  to  see  that  you  would  not 
steal  '  even  a  flower.'  Now  come  with  me,  and  I  will  cut  you  a  beautiful 
bunch  of  roses."  Then  she  asked  him  about  his  mother  and  sister,  and 
told  him  to  come  and  get  some  flowers,  whenever  his  sister  wanted  them. 

After  this  she  went  to  see  his  sick  sister  and  mother,  and  helped  them 
in  many  ways.  She  kept  up  her  interest  in  Charlie,  and  when  he  had 
done  going  to  school,  she  got  him  a  nice  situation,  and  remained  his 
friend  for  life. 

And  when  we  think  of  Pontius  Pilate,  the  weak  ruler,  let  us  remem- 
ber that  if  we  do  wrong,  we  must  always  suffer  for  it ;  and  that  if  we  do 
right  God  will  surely  reward  and  bless  us. 


"  Dare  to  do  right !    dare  to  be  true ! 
You  have  a  work  that  no  other  can  do ; 
Do  it  so  bravely,  so  kindly,  so  well, 
Angels  will  hasten  the  story  to  tell. 

Dare  to  do  right !    dare  to  be  true ! 

The  failings  of  others  can  never  save  you ; 

Stand  by  your  conscience,  your  honor,  your  faith ; 

Stand  like  a  hero,  and  battle  till  death. 

Dare  to  do  right !    dare  to  be  true ! 
God,  who  created  you,  cares  for  you  too — 
Treasures  the  tears  which  his  striving  ones  shed. 
Counts,  and  protects  every  hair  of  your  head." 


THE    TRIAL. 


763 


The  second  lesson  that  we  may  learn  from  the  history  of  Christ's  trial 
is  a  lesson  about — the  wicked  priests. 

If  our  Saviour  had  been  persecuted,  and  put  to  death  by  infidels,  or 
by  men  who  did  not  profess  to  be  religious,  it  would  not  have  been  sur- 


Under  whose  dominion  John  was  beheaded. 


prising.  But,  when  we  find  that  it  was  the  priests — men  occupying  the 
highest  places  in  the  church,  and  whose  business  it  was  to  study  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  teach  them  to  the  people — when  these  were  the  men  most  for- 
ward in  having  Jesus  put  to  death — it  seems  very  strange.  And  yet,  it 
was  just  so.     When  Jesus  began  his  ministry,  the  priests  were  the  first  to 


764  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

oppose  him.  As  he  went  on,  with  the  work  of  his  ministry,  they  were 
always  the  most  ready  to  persecute  him,  and  give  him  trouble.  And  at 
the  last,  it  was  the  priests  who  resolved  he  should  be  put  to  death,  and 
who  took  the  lead  in  bringing  about  that  awful  result.  It  was  the  priests 
who  hired  Judas  to  betray  him.  It  was  the  priests  who  brought  false 
charges  against  him.  And,  when  Pilate  was  willing  to  let  him  go,  it  was 
the  priests  who  stirred  up  the  people  to  insist  on  his  being  put  to  death. 
Jesus  had  come  at  the  time,  and  in  the  way,  that  the  prophets  had  said  he 
should  come ;  and  yet  the  priests  would  not  receive  him.  He  had  been 
loving,  and  gentle,  and  kind ;  and  yet,  they  hated  him.  He  had  spent  his 
life  in  going  about  doing  good;  and  yet  the  priests  made  up  their  minds 
that  he  must  be  put  to  death. 

And  the  question  that  comes  up  here  is — how  was  it  possible  that 
these  men — these  priests — should  be  so  wicked  ?  This  is  a  very  serious, 
and  important  question.  And  the  answer  to  it  is  this ;  that  being  minis- 
ters, or  priests  ;  or  being  engaged  in  the  outward  duties  of  religion  will  do 
us  no  good,  and  make  us  no  better  than  other  people,  unless  we  are  care- 
ful to  have  our  hearts  made  right  in  the  sight  of  God  ;  unless  we  are 
willing  to  believe  what  he  tells  us,  and  to  think,  and  feel,  and  speak,  and 
act,  as  he  wishes  us  to  do.  The  best  things,  when  spoiled,  always  become 
the  worst  things.  Women  have  many  things  that  help  to  make  them 
better  than  men.  But  a  bad  woman  is  always  worse  than  a  bad  man. 
Satan  was  once  an  archangel.  But  he  sinned.  He  fell.  He  is  now  an 
angel  ruined,  and  this  makes  him  the  worst,  the  wickedest  person  to  be 
found  in  all  the  universe. 

There  is  one  passage  of  Scripture,  which  explains  to  us,  how  it  was 
possible  for  those  priests  to  become  so  wicked.  This  passage  is  found  in 
2  Thess.  ii  :  ii,  12.  Here  the  apostle  Paul  tells  us,  that  if  we  are  not 
willing  to  let  God  be  our  teacher,  and  if  we  do  not  love  the  teachings  that 
he  gives  us,  God  will  let  Satan  come,  and  deceive  us,  and  lead  us  to 
believe  what  is  not  the  truth.  This  will  make  us  very  wicked ;  and  the 
end  of  it  will  be  that  our  souls  will  be  lost.  This  explains  to  us  how  it 
was  that  those  Jewish  priests  became  so  wicked.  They  were  not  willing 
to  let  God.be  their  Teacher.  They  would  not  receive  the  things  that  God 
had  taught  about  Jesus  in  the  Old   Testament.     Then  Satan  came  and 


THE    TRIAL. 


765 


deceived  them.  He  made  them  believe  what  was  not  true  about  Jesus. 
And  it  was  this  which  led  to  their  becoming  such  wicked  men.  They 
were  the  wickedest  men  in  the  world,  at  the  time  they  lived. 

And  this  should  make  us  very  careful  not  to  think  too  much  of  our- 
selves, or  of  our  own  opinions.  It  should  make  us  willing  to  believe  all 
that  God  tells  us  about  Jesus,  or  about  ourselves,  in  the  Bible,  whether  we 


"Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas,' 


understand  it,  or  not.  This  is  the  only  way  in  which  we  can  become 
wise,  and  good,  and  happy ;  and  be  kept  from  following  the  example  of 
these  wicked  priests. 

There  is  only  room  for  one  illustration  here. 

TJie  Two  Brothers. — Some  years  ago  there  lived,  in  the  State  of 
Rhode  Island,  two  boys  who  were  brothers,  twin-brothers.  They  grew  up 
together.     They  both  had  the  same  home,  the  same  education,  and  every- 


766  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

thing  about  them  the  same.  They  were  very  much  alike,  in  size,  and 
appearance.  They  were  both  bright,  intelligent,  sensible,  good-natured 
boys.  This  continued  till  they  were  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  Then, 
one  of  them  read  an  infidel  book — called  Paine's  Age  of  Reason.  He 
made  up  his  mind  to  follow  the  teachings  of  that  book.  The  other  bro- 
ther had  read  the  Bible,  and  resolved  to  take  that  as  his  guide  and  teacher 
through  life.  And  from  this  time,  the  two  brothers,  who  had  been  so  much 
alike  before,  soon  began  to  be  very  different  from  each  other.  One  of 
them  turned  round  and  walked  in  a  wrong  way,  the  other  went  on  in  the 
right  way.  One  of  them  fell  into  habits  of  intemperance,  and  so  was  led 
on  to  all  kinds  of  wickedness.  The  other  learned  the  lessons  which  the 
Bible  teaches,  and  practised  them  in  his  daily  life.  One  of  them  became 
an  idle,  worthless  vagabond,  while  the  other  became  a  useful,  prosperous, 
and  happy  citizen.  One  of  them  sank  down  to  the  low  level  of  a  wretched 
gambler,  while  the  other  rose  to  occupy  a  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  in  which  he  lived. 

And  the  end  of  these  two  men  was  that  one  of  them  committed 
murder.  He  was  put  in  prison ;  was  tried,  found  guilty,  condemned  to 
be  hung,  and  died  upon  the  gallows.  The  other  lived  a  long,  and  useful, 
and  happy  life,  and  died  at  last,  loved  and  honored  by  all  who  knew  him. 

This  is  the  lesson  about  the  wicked  priests. 

The  next  lesson  from  this  history  of  the  trial  is  about — the  patience 
OF  Christ. 

There  are  many  things  told  us  of  the  life  of  Christ  which  are  wonderful, 
but  the  most  wonderful  of  all  is  his  patience.  There  are  other  examples  of 
patience  in  the  Bible,  but  none  that  can  be  compared  with  the  example  of 
Jesus.  The  apostle  James  tells  us  of  "  the  patience  of  Job."  Ch.  v:  ii.  He 
was  indeed  very  patient.  In  one  day  he  lost  all  his  property,  and  his 
children.  The  messengers,  that  brought  him  the  sad  tidings  of  his  losses, 
followed  each  other,  like  the  waves  of  the  sea.  It  must  have  been  very- 
hard  for  him  to  bear.  And  if  we  had  been  told  that  he  was  very  much 
excited,  and  had  said  some  very  violent,  and  bitter  words,  on  hearing  of 
all  that  had  happened  to  him,  we  should  not  have  been  at  all  surprised. 
But  he  did  nothing  of  the  kind.  After  hearing  of  all  his  terrible  losses, 
he  simply  bowed  himself  to  the  earth,  and   said — "The  Lord  gave,  and 


THE    TRIAL. 


767 


the  Lord  hath  taken  away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."    Job  i:  21. 
Here  is  a  noble  example  of  patience. 

Joseph  was  very  patient.  When  he  first  saw  his  brethren,  as  they 
came  down  to  Egypt  to  buy  corn,  he  remembered  all  the  bitter  wrongs 
they  had  done  to  him.  He  was  now  the  governor  of  all  the  land  of 
Egypt.  They  were  completely  in  his  power.  How  easily  he  could  have 
taken  revenge  upon  them  by  throwing  them  into  prison,  or  putting  them 


Bowed  the  knee  before  him  in  shameful  mockery. 

to  death !  But  there  was  no  such  feeling  in  his  heart.  He  was  forp-iving-. 
and  patient.  He  only  thought  of  doing  them  good,  and  showing  them 
kindness. 

But,  all  other  examples  of  patience  dwindle  into   nothing,  when  com- 
pared to  the  example  of  Christ.     What  a  beautiful  picture  of  his  patience, 
the  prophet  Isaiah  gives,  when  he  thus  speaks  of  him  :  "  He  was  oppressed 
and  he  was  afflicted,  yet  he  opened  not  his  mouth  ;  he  is  brought  as  a  lamb 


768  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so  he  opened 
not  his  mouth."  Isaiah  liii:  7.  He  let  his  enemies  say  all  manner  of  evil 
things  against  him  falsely;  he  let  them  mock  him, — and  smite  him  on  the 
face, — and  spit  upon  him.  Yes,  he  whom  the  angels  of  heaven  had  been 
accustomed  to  honor,  and  worship,  as  they  bowed  in  reverence  before  him, 
allowed  himself  to  be  so  shamefully  treated  by  sinful  worms  of  the  dust, 
by  the  very  men  he  had  come  down  from  heaven  to  save ;  and  yet,  he 
never  spoke  one  cross,  or  angry  word  to  them  !  How  wonderful  this  was! 
How  amazed  the  angels  must  have  been  when  they  saw  it!  Oh !  what  an 
example  of  patience  we  have  in  Jesus !  And  if  we  call  ourselves  the 
friends,  and  followers  of  Christ,  let  us  try  to  have  the  same  mind  in  us 
that  was  in  him,  by  imitating  the  example  of  his  patience.  There  is  no 
way  in  which  we  can  do  so  much  good  to  others,  and  make  them  think 
well  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  as  by  trying  to  practice  the  same  patience 
which  he  practiced. 

How  to  Learn  Patience. — A  good  many  years  ago  there  was  a  cele- 
brated physician  in  Germany,  named  Boerhave.  He  was  famous  for  his 
learning,  and  also  for  his  piety.  He  had  learned  well  this  lesson  of  pa- 
tience. One  day  he  had  been  greatly  provoked,  but  without  getting  angry 
in  the  least.  A  friend  who  had  witnessed  it,  asked  him  if  he  knew  what  it 
was  to  be  angry.  "  O,  yes,"  said  he,  "  my  temper  was  naturally  very  vio- 
lent, and  passionate." 

"Then,  pray  tell  me,"  said  his  friend,  "how  you  ever  learned  to  be  so 
patient."  Now  mark  what  that  great  and  good  man  said,  in  answer  to 
this  inquiry. 

"I  learned  to  be  patient,"  was  his  reply,  "by  doing  two  things;  one 
was  by  thinking  of  Christ;  the  other  was  by  asking  him  to  help  me." 

We  may  all  learn  patience  in  this  way. 

A  Soldier  s  Example  of  Patience. — Some  years  ago  an  English  mis- 
sionary in  India  baptized  a  soldier.  This  man  had  been  a  famous  prize- 
fighter in  England.  He  was  a  powerful,  lion-looking,  lion-hearted  man. 
With  a  single  blow  he  could  level  the  strongest  man  to  the  ground.  The 
men  in  his  regiment  were  all  afraid  of  him.  He  had  not  been  in  the  habit 
of  going  to  church,  but,  as  he  afterwards  told  the  missionary,  "  he  sauntered 
into  the  chapel  one  evening,  hardly  knowing  where  he  was  going."    What 


THE    TRIAL. 


769 


he  heard  that  night,  led  him  to  repentance,  and  he  became  a  Christian. 
The  change  which  took  place  in  his  temper  and  conduct  was  very  sur- 
prising. The  lion  was  changed  into  a  lamb.  A  month  or  so  after  this, 
when  they  were  dining  in  the  mess-room,  one  day,  some  of  his  comrades, 
who  had  always  been  afraid  of  him,  began  to  ridicule  him,  on  account  of 
his  religion.  One  of  them  said,  "  I'll  find  out  whether  he  is  a  real  Chris- 
tian or  not ;"  and  taking  a  bowl  of  hot  soup,  he  threw  it  into  his  breast. 
The  whole  company  were  alarmed  at  this.  They  looked  on  in  speechless 
silence,  expecting  to  see  the  roused  lion  leap  up,  and  spring  in  fury  on  his 
foe.  But  he  quietly  opened  his  waistcoat,  and  wiped  his  scalded  breast. 
Then  turning  calmly  round 
he  said,  "This  is  what  I 
must  expect.  If  I  become 
a  Christian,  I  must  suffer 
persecution.  But  my  Sa- 
viour was  patient,  and  I 
want  to  be  like  him."  His 
comrades  were  filled  with 
astonishment.  But  they 
were  satisfied  he  was  a  true 
Christian,  and  he  had  no 
more  trouble  from  them. 
The  patience  of  Christ  is 
the  third  lesson  for  us  to 
learn  from  his  trial. 

The  fourth  lesson  taugJit  us  by  tJiis  subject  is — the  humiliation  of 

CHRIST. 

If  we  desired  to  put  the  whole  history  of  the  life  of  our  blessed  Sa- 
viour, into  a  single  sentence,  I  do  not  think  we  could  find  a  better  one 
than  that  which  the  apostle  Paul  uses  when  he  says  of  him  that — "  He 
humbled  himself r  Phil,  ii:  8.  Before  he  came  into  our  world  he  was  "in 
the  form  of  God,  and  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God."  This 
means  that  he  was  God.  Now  if  he  had  chosen  to  become  an  angel,  holy, 
and  pure,  and  good,  he  would  have  had  to  humble  himself  very  much, 
even  for  that.     But,  instead  of  becoming  an  angel,  he  became  a  man. 


Behold  the  man. 


770  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

And,  in  becoming  a  man,  he  took  our  nature  upon  him  in  its  fallen  state. 
He  was  made  like  us  in  all  points,  except  sin.  How  he  humbled  himself 
here !  And,  in  coming  into  our  world,  if  he  had  chosen  to  come  as  one 
of  the  richest  men  in  it, — as  a  great  king  or  emperor — that  would  have 
been  an  act  of  great  humiliation.  But  he  came  as  a  poor  man.  He  was 
one  of  the  poorest  men  that  ever  lived  on  the  earth.  He  had  made  the 
world,  and  was  the  owner  of  all  its  treasures,  and  yet  he  could  say  of  him- 
self with  truth — "  The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  have 
nests,  but  the  Son  of  Man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head."  What  humil- 
iation there  was  here!  We  see  his  humiliation  in  the  poverty  and  suffer- 
ing that  he  endured.  His  whole  life  was  an  act  of  humiliation.  But  how 
greatly  this  humiliation  was  increased  during  the  time  of  his  trial !  Think 
how  his  back  was  torn  by  the  cruel  scourges !  What  humiliation  was 
there!  Think  how  he  was  mocked,  and  insulted!  Think  how  the  sol- 
diers put  an  old  purple  robe  upon  him;  how  they  plaited  a  crown  of 
thorns,  and  put  it  upon  his  head ;  how  they  put  a  reed  in  his  hand  in 
mockery  for  a  sceptre :  how  they  bowed  the  knee  before  him  in  scorn, 
and  cried — "  Hail !  king  of  the  Jews  !"  How  wonderful  this  was  !  O, 
never  let  us  forget  the  humiliation  of  Christ!  And  when  we  think  of  all 
this — how  can  we,  as  Christians,  ever  feel  proud  ?  Our  great  duty  is,  as 
the  apostle  says,  to  be  "  clothed  with  humility."  No  wonder  that  Augus- 
tine, one  of  the  old  fathers  of  the  early  church,  when  asked — "  Wliat  is 
the  first  thing  for  a  Christian  to  learn  ?  should  have  said — humility.  What 
is  the  second? — humility.  And  what  is  the  third?  should  still  have  said 
—  -humility. 

Examples  of  HiiniiUfy. — A  converted  South  Sea  Islander  was  help- 
ing to  translate  the  New  Testament  into  his  native  language.  On  coming 
to  the  passage,  "  Behold  what  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath  bestowed 
upon  us,  that  we  should  be  called  the  sons  of  God;"  i  John  iii :  i,  he 
hastened  to  Mr.  Williams,  the  missionary  and  said,  "  No,  no,  this  is  too 
much,  too  much !  let  us  say — "  Now  are  we  allowed  to .  kiss  God's  feet." 
That  man  was  clothed  with  humility. 

A  pious  nobleman  in  England  was  in  the  habit  of  attending  a  prayer 
meeting  in  the  country  village  where  he  lived,  and  where  a  few  of  the 
poor  people  of  the  neighbourhood  were  accustomed  to  assemble  on  a 


THE    TRIAL. 


771 


week-day  evening.  When  he  first  came  in  they  were  surprised  to  see 
him,  and  they  all  rose  up  at  once  to  offer  him  the  best  seat  in  the  room. 
This  troubled  him  greatly.  He  gently  said  to  them,  "  Please  take  your 
seats  my  friends,  and  have  the  kindness  not  to  do  this  again.  When  I 
go  to  the  "  House  of  Lords,"  I  go  as  one  of  the  lords  of  the  realm.  But 
when  I  come  to  this  cottage  prayer-meeting,  /  come  simply  as  a  disciple 


-f^^ffX^f  JMAfJS, 


The  Jews  had  tried  to  find  something  wrong  in  his  speech. 

of  yesHs  among  my  fellow  disciples,  and  must  be  allowed  to  take  any  seat 
that  may  be  empty."     That  nobleman  was  clothed  with  humility. 

The  Humble  King. — A  French  monarch,  was  found  one  day  by  some 
of  his  attendants  engaged  in  instructing  out  of  the  Bible,  a  boy  belonging 
to  his  cook. 

They  said  it  was  beneath  his  dignity  as  the  king  of  France,  to  be  en- 
gaged in  teaching  the  child  of  his  cook.  His  answer  was  a  noble  one. 
"  My  friends,"  said  he,  "  this  boy  has  a  soul  that  is  as  precious  as  mine, 


772  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

and  if  was  bought  with  the  same  precious  blood.  If  it  was  not  beneath  the 
dignity  of  my  Saviour,  the  King  of  heaven,  to  die  for  him,  it  is  not  be- 
neath my  dignity  as  king  of  France  to  tell  him  what  has  been  done  for 
his  salvation." 

That  king  was  clothed  with  humility.  The  humiliation  of  Christ  is 
the  fourth  lesson  taught  us  by  this  trial. 

The  hist  lesson  we  learn  from  the  history  of  the  trial  is  about — the 

GLORY  OF  CHRIST. 

Perhaps  some  may  think  it  strange  to  speak  of  the  glory  of  Christ  in 
connection  with  this  part  of  his  history.  Here  we  see  him  betrayed,  and 
deserted  by  his  own  disciples.  He  is  delivered  into  the  hands  of  his  en- 
emies. They  pretend  to  try  him.  But  it  is  only  the  form  of  a  trial  through 
which  he  is  made  to  pass.  He  is  charged  with  great  crimes.  These  can- 
not be  proved  against  him.  But  still  he  is  condemned  to  the  most  dis- 
graceful of  all  deaths.  He  is  handed  to  the  soldiers  to  do  what  they 
please  with  him.  And  is  it  right  to  speak  of  the  glory  of  Christ  in  connec- 
tion with  such  scenes  as  these?  Yes.  For  this  was  just  what  Jesus  did 
himself.  It  was,  as  he  was  about  to  enter  on  all  this  humiliation  and  suf- 
fering, when  Judas  went  out  from  his  presence  to  betray  him,  that  Jesus 
said: — ''Now  is  the  Son  of  man  glorified."  Thus  he  himself  connected 
the  thought  of  his  glory'with  these  very  scenes.  And  surely  he  was  not 
mistaken.     He  knew  what  he  was  saying. 

Now  just  think  what  it  is  in  which  true  glory  consists.  It  is  not  in 
wearing  fine  clothes.  It  is  not  in  occupying  high  positions.  It  is  not  in 
having  people  say  fine,  and  flattering  things  about  us.  No;  but  it  is  in 
thinking,  and  feeling,  and  saying,  and  doing,  and  suffering  that  which  is 
right,  and  according  to  the  will  of  God.  And  this  is  just  the  position  that 
Jesus  was  occupying  during  his  trial.  He  was  fulfilling  the  will  of  God, 
in  things  that  were  the  hardest  of  all  for  him  to  do,  and  to  suffer.  And 
that  was  what  made  him  glorious. 

If  we  were  asked  to  point  to  that  part  of  our  Saviour's  life,  in  which 
he  appears  to  us  in  the  greatest  glory,  there  would  probably  be  consider- 
able difference  of  opinion  among  us.  Some  of  us,  no  doubt,  would  point 
to  his  transfiguration  :  some  to  the  times  when  he  walked  upon  the  water, 
or  controlled  the  winds  and  the  waves  with  his  word,    and  others  would 


THE    TRIAL. 


77: 


point  to  the  times  when  he  healed  the  sick,  or  raised  the  dead,  and  cast 
out  devils.  But  it  was  not  so.  No :  but  it  was  when  he  was  betrayed 
and  forsaken — when  he  was  condemned  to  death,  and  mocked,  and  in- 
sulted by  his  enemies  that  Jesus  appeared  most  glorious :  for  it  was  then 


He  said,   "Kender  unto  Cxsar  the  things  which   are  Ca;sar's." 


that  he  was  showing,  in   the   strongest  possible  light,  his  desire  to  do  hi. 
Father's  will,  and  the  greatness  of  his  love  for  the  people  he  came  to  save. 
It  is  not  clothing,  but  character  that  makes  us  great,  or  glorious.    And  the 
more  we  try  to  be  like  Jesus,  in  doing  the  will  of  God,  as  he  did  it,  in  this 
part  of  his  life,  the  greater  will  be  the  glory  belonging  to  us. 


774 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


The  True  Hevo.—K  number  of  boys  were  playing  after  school  one 
day.  The  play  ground  was  on  the  bank  of  a  river.  One  of  the  biggest 
boys  was  named  Tom  Price.  He  was  the  strongest  boy  in  the  school. 
He  loved  to  get  up  quarrels  among  the  boys  to  show  how  easily  he  could 


It  was  customary  to  scourge  before  crucifying. 

whip  any  of  them.  But  there  was  one  boy  in  the  school  who  never  would 
fight.  His  name  was  Joe  Wilson.  He  was  not  so  big,  or  so  strong  as 
Tom  Price.  But  it  was  not  this  which  made  him  unwilling  to  fight.  He 
was  trying  to  be  a  Christian.  He  knew  it  was  wrong  to  fight,  and  so  he 
always  refused  to  do  it. 


775 


THE    TRIAL.  yyj 


One  day  Tom  Price  agreed  with  some  of  the  other  boys  to  try  and* 
force  a  fight  on  Joe  Wilson.     So  while  they  were  playing  after  school, 
Tom  knocked  Joe's  cap  off  his  head,  and  it  fell  into  the  river. 

"  Tom  threw  your  cap  over  on  purpose,  Joe,"  said  one  of  the  boys  ; 
"  fight  him  for  it." 

"  Yes,  give  it  to  him,  Wilson,"  said  the  other  boys,"  we'll  see  that  you 
have  fair  play." 

Price  squared  off,  and  stood  in  a  fighting  position.  "  I  won't  fight," 
said  Wilson.  "  I'm  sorry  you  threw  the  cap  over  Price  :  for  it  was  all  but 
new,  and  I  don't  see  any  fun  in  such  mischief  But,  I'm  not  going  to 
fight  about  it." 

"  Come  on,  if  you  dare,"  said  Price,  shaking  his  fist  at  him.  All  the 
boys  gathered  round  and  urged  Wilson  to  "  go  on,  and  give  it  to  him." 

"  No,  I  don't  think  it  right  to  fight,"  said  Wilson,  "  and  I  won't  do  it." 

"  Coward  !  coward  !  he's  afraid,"  cried  the  boys.  "  I  am  not  a  coward," 
said  Wilson  ;  "  I  dare  do  anything  that's  right.  But  this  is  not  right,  and 
I  won't  do  it." 

"  Go  home,  coward !  go  home,  coward !"  shouted  the  boys  after  him, 
as  he  turned  to  go  home. 

He  had  not  gone  far  before  there  was  the  sound  of  a  heavy  splash. 
"He's  in!"  He'll  drown! — he  can't  swim!  Price  is  drowning,"  cried  the 
boys  as  they  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  bank. 

Joe  Wilson  heard  these  shouts,  and  ran  to  the  bank  of  the  river.  He 
saw  Price  struggling  in  the  stream.  The  other  boys  were  running  about 
and  shouting,  but  they  were  afraid  to  go  in.  In  a  moment  Joe  Wilson 
threw  off  his  jacket,  stepped  back  a  few  paces — ran — and  jumped  into  the 
river.  He  swam  out  to  Price — caught  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  and 
managed,  though  with  great  difficulty,  and  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life,  to 
bring  him  safely  to  the  shore.  Wilson  walked  quietly  home,  not  only  to 
change  his  wet  clothes,  but  also  to  avoid  the  praise  of  those  who  but  a 
moment  ago  were  calling  him  a  coward. 

An  old  gentleman  was  standing  there  who  had  witnessed  this  whole 
scene.  As  soon  as  Wilson  was  gone,  he  called  the  boys  to  him  and  said : 
"  Boys !  learn  a  lesson  from  what  has  just  taken  place.  Don't  mistake  a 
hero  for  a  coward  next  time.     The  boy  who  is  afraid  to  do  what  he  knows 


n^ 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


to  be  wrong  in  God's  sight,  is  the  true  hero.  He  is  not  afraid  of  anything 
else ;  not  afraid  of  man — of  danger — or  of  death." 

The  point  of  greatest  glory,  in  Joe  Wilson's  conduct  that  day,  was 
not  when  he  bravely  plunged  into  the  river.  No :  but  it  was  when  he  no- 
bly stood  his  ground  among  his  companions,  and  said  "  I  think  it  wrong 
to  fight ;  and  I  won't  do  it." 

And  so,  even  amidst  the  sorrowful  scenes  of  our  Saviour's  trials,  we 
see  his  glory  shining  out  in  the  way  in  which  he  did  and  suffered  what 
was  according  to  the  will  of  God. 

And  from  this  study  of  the  trial  of  our  Saviour,  let  us  carry  away 
with  us  the  five  lessons  of  which  we  have  spoken. 

These  are  the  lesson  about  the  weak  ruler : — the  wicked  priests : — the 
patience — the  humiliation — and  the  glory  of  Christ. 


THE   CRUCIFIXION. 


E  read  in  St.  Matthew's  gospel,  these 
three,  simple,  but  solemn  words: 
"  They  crucified  him."  Chap,  xxvii : 
35.  Here  we  have  set  before  us  the 
greatest  event  in  the  histor}-^  of  our 
Saviour  while  he  was  on  earth.  They 
tell  us  of  the  most  important  event 
that  ever  took  place  in  our  own  world, 
or  in  any  other  world.  We  have  no 
reason  to  suppose  that  Jesus  ever  took 
upon  himself  the  nature  of  any  other 
race  of  creatures,  as  he  did  take  our 
nature.  We  have  no  reason  to  sup- 
pose that  he  ever  died,  in  any  other 
world,  as  he  died  in  ours.  How  won- 
derful this  makes  the  thought  of  his 
crucifixion !  And  how  diligently  we 
should  study  it,  and  try  to  understand 
what  it  was  intended  to  teach !  This 
is  what  we  come  now  to  do.  And  in 
doing  this,  the  two  great  things  for 


779 


78o  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

us  chiefly  to  consider,  are — The  histoyy  of  the  Crucifixion;  and  its 
Lessons. 

And  in  looking  at  this  history  the  first  thing  for  us  to  notice  is — the 
place  of  the  crucifixion. 

In  speaking  of  this  place,  St.  Matthew  xxvii:  33,  says  it  was — "a  place 
called  Golgotha,  that  is  to  say  a  place  of  a  skull."  St.  Luke  xxiii :  33, 
says  it  was  a  place  "called  Calvary."  Golgotha  is  a  Hebrew  word,  and 
Calvary  is  a  Latin  word ;  but  they  both  mean  the  same  thing,  namely  a 
skull,  or  the  place  of  a  skull.  Some  have  thought  that  this  name  was 
given  to  it  because  it  was  the  spot  where  public  executions  took  place, 
and  criminals  were  buried.  But  there  is  no  proof  of  this.  It  is  often 
spoken  of  as  "the  hill oi  Calvary:"  but  it  is  never  so  called  in  the  New 
Testament.  It  is  supposed  to  have  received  its  name  from  the  fact  of  its 
being  a  smooth  and  rounded  piece  of  ground,  resembling  somewhat  the 
shape  of  a  skull,  and  looking  like  what  we  call  the  brow  of  a  hill.  Exactly 
where  this  place  was,  we  cannot  tell.  In  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepul- 
chre, at  Jerusalem,  they  show  a  hole  in  a  rock,  which  they  pretend  to  say 
was  the  very  hole  in  which  the  cross  of  Jesus  was  placed.  But  it  is  im- 
possible to  prove  this.  And,  the  thought  which  shows  how  unlikely  this 
is  to  be  the  Calvary  where  Jesus  died  is  this,  that  Jesus  died  outside  the 
walls  of  Jerusalem,  but  this  is  inside  the  walls,  and  we  know  that  the  city 
at  that  time  was  much  larger  than  the  present  city.  The  apostle  Paul 
tells  us  that  "Jesus  suffered  without  the  gate!'  Heb.  xiii:  13.  We  are  sure 
then  that  Calvary,  or  Golgotha,  the  place  of  the  crucifixion,  was  outside 
the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  but  nigh  unto  the  city.  This  is  all  that  we  can 
find  out  about  it  with  any  certainty. 

The  time  of  the  crucifixion,  is  the  next  thing  to  consider.  It  was  on 
Friday  of  the  last  week  of  his  earthly  life.  What  is  called  "Good  Fri- 
day," in  the  week  before  Easter,  known  as  Passion  Week,  is  kept  by  a 
large  part  of  the  Christian  Church  in  memory  of  this  event. 

As  to  the  hour  of  the  day  when  the  crucifixion  took  place,  there  is 
some  difference  in  the  statements  made  by  the  different  Evangelists.  St. 
Matthew  says  nothing  about  the  hour  when  Jesus  was  crucified.  He  only 
says  that  during  the  time  of  the  crucifixion,  "  from  the  sixth  hour  there 
was  darkness  over  all  the  land  unto  the  ninth  hour."     St.  Matthew  xxvii : 


THE    CRUCIFIXION. 


781 


45.  This  means  from  twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  till  three  o'clock  in  the  af- 
ternoon. St.  Luke  and  St.  John  both  say  that  it  was — '' about  \k\t  sixth 
hour,"  when  this  great  event  took  place.  But,  it  is  clear  from  their  way  of 
speaking  of  it,  that  they  did  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  stating  the  time 
very  exactly.  St.  Mark  says — ch.  xv :  25,  "  And  it  was  the  third  hour, 
and  they  crucified  him."  There  seems  to  be  a  disagreement  between 
these  statements.  But  it  is  easy  enough  to  reconcile  the  difference. 
There  are  two  ways  of  doing  this.  One  is  by  supposing  that  when  St. 
Mark  says  "  It  was  the  third  hour 
and  they  crucified  him,"  he  was 
speaking  of  the  time  when  they 
began  to  make  the  preparations 
for  the  crucifixion,  while  St.  Luke 
and  St.  John  refer  to  the  time 
when  the  preparations  were  all 
finished,  and  the  crucifixion  had 
actually  taken  place. 

But  there  is  another  way  of 
reconciling  this  apparent  differ- 
ence. The  Jews  were  accustom- 
ed to  divide  their  day  into  four 
parts,  corresponding  with  the  four 
watches  into  which  the  night  was 
divided.  Beginning  at  six  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  which  was  the 
time  when  their  day  commenced, 
they  sometimes    called   the  first 

three  hours  of  the  day,  from  six  to  nine  o'clock,  the  first  hour.  The  next 
three  hours,  from  nine  to  twelve  o'clock,  they  called  the  second  hour ; 
and  then,  according  to  this  way  of  reckoning,  the  three  hours  following, 
from  twelve  to  three  o'clock,  would  be  the  third  hour.  And  if  this  was 
the  way  in  which  St.  Mark  was  speaking,  then  his  third  hour  would  agree 
exactly  with  the  sixth  hour  mentioned  by  St.  Luke  and  St.  John.  And 
so,  when  we  think  of  the  time  of  the  crucifixion,  we  may  remember  that 
Jesus   hung   upon  the   cross,   in   dreadful  agonies,   from  "  about "  twelve 


The  Via  Dolorosa. 


782  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

o'clock,  at  noonday  until  three  in  the  afternoon.  O,  how  long  and  painful 
those  hours  must  have  seemed  to  him  ! 

The  next  thing  to  notice  is — the  manner  of  the  crucifixion.  Suppose 
that  you  and  I  had  been  standing  on  Calvary  at  the  time  of  our  Saviour's 
death  :  what  should  we  have  seen  ?  Why,  lying  there  on  the  ground,  we 
should  have  seen  the  great  wooden  cross,  on  which  Jesus  was  to  suffer. 
It  is  made  of  two  pieces.  There  is  one  long,  upright  piece  of  timber,  and 
a  shorter  one  fastened  across  this  upright  beam,  at  the  upper  end.  There 
is  Jesus  standing  by — bound,  and  bleeding,  and  crowned  with  thorns. 
The  soldiers  take  him  and  lay  his  body  on  the  cross,  with  his  back  to- 
wards it.  They  stretch  out  his  arms  to  their  full  length,  along  the  upper 
beam  of  the  cross.  They  take  heavy  hammers  and  drive  great  rough 
nails  through  the  palms  of  his  hands,  and  through  the  tender  part  of  his 
feet.  How  terrible  the  suffering  caused  by  every  blow  of  those  hammers! 
And  see,  when  this  is  done,  the  soldiers  raise  up  the  cross,  and  place  the 
lower  end  of  it  in  a  hole  they  had  prepared  for  it.  It  comes  down  with  a 
jar.  What  terrible  tortures  that  jar  sends  through  every  part  of  the 
suffering  Saviour's  frame  !  About  the  middle  of  the  cross  is  a  projecting 
piece  of  wood,  to  form  a  sort  of  seat,  so  as  to  prevent  the  whole  weight 
of  the  body  from  hanging  from  the  nails,  and  tearing  the  flesh  of  the 
hands  and  feet.  And  there  the  Son  of  God  is  left  to  suffer  tortures  that 
cannot  be  expressed,  till  death  shall  come  and  bring  him  relief 

The  witnesses  of  the  crucifixion,  is  the  next  thing,  of  which  to 
speak. 

Near  the  cross  was  his  mother,  and  the  good  women  who  were  her 
companions.  John  is  the  only  one  of  the  apostles  found  near  the  cross 
at  the  time  when  their  Lord  was  crucified.  The  soldiers  and  the  priests 
were  there.  The  walls  of  Jerusalem  were,  no  doubt,  lined  with  people 
looking  anxiously  on:  and  crowds  of  strangers  were  standing  by,  behold- 
ing this  sad  event;  for  Jerusalem  was  always  full  of  persons  from  a 
distance  at  that  season,  who  came  to  keep  the  feast  of  the  Passover.  And 
then,  if  our  eyes  had  been  opened,  as  the  eyes  of  Elisha's  servant  were, 
(2  Kings  vi :  17),  so  that  we  could  have  seen,  as  spirits  do,  we  should 
have  beheld  multitudes  of  angels  among  the  spectators  of  the  crucifixion. 
We   should   have  seen  them  hovering  over  the  cross,  and  gazing  with 


THE    CRUCIFIXION.  783 

wonder  on  the  sight  that  met  their  view  there — the  Son  of  God — hanging 
on  the  cross  in  agonies  and  blood  I 

The  wonders  atf ending  the  critcifixion  is  another  thing  to  notice. 
There  was  the  darkness  over  all  the  land  from  the  sixth  to  the  ninth  hour, 
or  from  twelve  to  three  o'clock.  This  was  not  a  natural  darkness,  caused 
by  an  eclipse  of  the  sun,  for  the  Jewish  Passover  was  held  at  the  time  of 
the  full  moon,  and  it  is  impossible  to  have  an  eclipse  then.  No:  it  was  a 
miraculous  darkness.  The  sun  hid  his  face,  as  if  he  was  ashamed  to  look 
on  and  see 

"  When  God,  the  Mighty  Maker  died. 
For  man,  the  creature's  sin." 

And  then  there  was  an  earthquake.  The  great  globe  itself  seemed 
to  tremble  at  the  thought  of  the  dreadful  deed  that  was  taking  place  on 
its  surface.  The  solid  rocks  were  rent  in  pieces.  The  graves  were 
opened,  and  many  of  the  dead  buried  in  them  rose,  and  came  back  to 
life.  And  then,  at  the  same  time,  the  vail  of  the  temple — that  thick, 
strong  vail — which  hung  between  the  holy  place,  and  the  most  holy  place, 
without  any  one  touching  it,  was  rent  in  twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom. 
This  was  done  by  miracle.  If  you  and  I  had  been  there,  with  our  eyes 
opened,  as  I  said  a  little  while  ago,  we  should  probably  have  seen  two 
mighty  angels,  taking  hold  of  that  veil  and  rending  it.  These  were  fhe 
wonders  that  attended  the  crucifixion. 

And  then  there  are  the  words  spoken  by  ycsus  on  the  cross,  to  notice. 
Seven  times  the  blessed  Lord  opened  his  mouth  and  spoke,  as  he  hung 
amidst  the  torturing  agonies  of  the  cross.  The  first  time  he  spoke  there, 
was  to  pray  for  his  murderers.  St.  Luke  xxiii :  34.  Then  he  spoke  to  his 
disciple  John,  who  was  standing  near  the  cross,  and  asked  him  to  take 
care  of  his  mother.  St.  John  xix :  25-27.  Then  he  answered  the  prayer 
of  the  dying  thief,  and  told  him  he  should  be  with  him  in  paradise  that 
day.  St.  Luke  xxiii:  39-43.  Then  he  said — "  I  thirst."  St.  John  xix:  28. 
Then  came  the  awful  cry  which  he  uttered  when  his  Father  in  heaven  for- 
sook him,  and  left  him  alone.  St.  Matthew  xxvii :  46.  Then  he  said — 
"  It  is  finished  !"  St.  John  xix  :  30.     Then  he  "cried  with  a  loud  voice,  and 


784  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

said — "Father,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit."  St.  Luke  xxiii:  44. 
And  then  he  meekly  bowed  his  head  and  died. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  crucifixion — the  most  solemn,  the  most  aw- 
ful, the  most  important  event  that  ever  took  place  since  the  world  was 

made. 

A  great  many  very  valuable  lessons  are  taught  us  by  the  history  of 

the  crucifixion.     We  can  only  speak  of  five. 

The  first  lesson  taught  us  by  the  crucifixion  is — the  lesson  of  forgive- 
ness. 

It  was  probably  while  the  Roman  soldiers  were  driving  the  rough 
nails  through  his  tender  hands  and  feet,  or  just  after  the  cross  was  set  up 
in  its  place,  that  Jesus  taught  us  this  lesson.  He  looked  on  his  murderers 
with  a  pitying  eye.  If  he  had  asked  God  to  punish  them,  as  they  deserved 
for  their  cruelty,  or  if  he  had  spoken  to  them  ever  so  severely,  it  would 
not  have  been  surprising.  But  though  they  were  causing  him  so  much 
suffering,  when  he  had  done  them  no  harm,  still  there  was  not  one  angry 
feeling  in  his  heart  towards  them,  and  not  one  unkind  word  fell  from  his 
lips.  Instead  of  this,  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and  offered  the 
prayer — '"  Father,  forgive  them  ;  for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  Here 
we  have  the  most  perfect  pattern  of  forgiveness,  the  world  has  ever 
known.  If  we  wish  to  be  true  followers  of  Jesus,  we  must  try  to  be  like 
him  in  this  respect.     We  must  learn  well  this  lesson  of  forgiveness. 

Examples  of  Forgiveness.— Dr.  Duff,  the  late  excellent  missionary  to 
India,  once  read  our  Saviour's  sermon  on  the  mount  to  some  Hindoo 
young  men,  whom  he  was  teaching.  As  he  read  on  he  came  to  the  pas- 
sage in  which  Jesus  says,  "  I  say  unto  you  love  your  enemies,  bless  them 
that  persecute  you,  and  pray  for  them  that  despitefully  use  you,  and  per- 
secute you."  One  of  the  young  men  was  so  impressed  by  our  Saviour's 
words,  that  he  exclaimed,  with  great  earnestness,  "  O  how  beautiful !  how 
divine !  this  is  the  truth  !"  And  for  days,  and  weeks  afterwards  he  would 
extlaim,  from  time  to  time,  "Love  your  enemies  I  who  ever  heard  such 
teaching?     How  beautiful  this  is!     This  is  heavenly  teaching!" 

A  Forgiving  Boy. — "Mamma,"  said  little  Charley,  "now  I've  got  a 
new  sled,  what  shall  I  do  with  my  old  one  ?"  Presently  he  added,  "  Mam- 
ma, there's  a  chance  to  do  something  real  good." 


THE    CRUCIFIXION. 


785 


"  What  is  it,  Charley  ?" 
"Why,  you  see,  mamma,  if  there's  any  boy  that  I  hate,  it's  Tim  Tyson. 
He's  always  plaguing  and  teasing  me,  and  all  the  other  little  boys.  It 
never  does  any  good  to  get  cross,  for  that  is  just  what  he  likes:  but  then 
Tim  likes  sledding  very  much,  and  he  has  no  sled.  I've  a  notion  to  give 
the  old  sled  to  him.  It  will  show  him  that  I  forgive  him.  It  might  make 
him  think,  and  do  him  good.  Mightn't  it?"  "  Yes,  it  might,"  said  the 
mother. 


On  the  way  to  Calvary. 


So  Tim  got  Charley's  sled.  The  kind,  forgiving  spirit  of  the  little  boy 
he  had  teased  so  much,  touched  him  greatly.  It  made  him  think.  It  did 
him  good.  After  that  Tim  never  teased  Charley  again,  or  any  of  the  other 
little  boys. 

How  a  Bishop  taught  Forgiveness. — There  was  once  a  good  Bishop 
who  lived  at  Alexandria  in  Egypt.  One  day  a  nobleman  came  to  see  him. 
He  told  the  bishop  about  a  person  who  had  done  him  a  great  wrong.    He 


786  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

got  very  angry  about  it.  "  I  never  will  forgive  him,"  said  he,  "  as  long  as 
I  live." 

Just  then  the  bell  tinkled  for  prayers,  in  the  bishop's  private  chapel. 
He  rose  to  go  into  the  chapel,  and  asked  the  nobleman  to  follow  him. 
The  bishop  kneeled  at  the  railing  of  the  little  chancel.  He  asked  his 
friend  to  repeat  the  Lord's  prayer  after  him,  sentence  by  sentence.  This 
was  done  till  they  came  to  the  sentence  "  Forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as 
we  forgive  those  who  trespass  against  us."  When  the  bishop  had  offered 
this  prayer  he  waited  for  the  nobleman  to  say  it  after  him,  but  he  was 
silent.  He  said  it  again  but  there  was  no  answer.  Then  the  bishop  was 
silent  and  gave  his  friend  time  to  think.  Presently  the  nobleman  rose  to 
his  feet  and  said  : — 

"  I  dare  not  offer  that  prayer,  while  I  feel  as  I  now  do.  It  would  be 
asking  God  never  to  forgive  me.    I  must  forgive  if  I  expect  to  be  forgiven." 

Then  he  left  the  chapel,  sought  out  the  person  who  had  injured  him, 
and  told  him  that  he  freely  forgave  him.  After  this  he  went  back  and  fin- 
ished his  prayer  with  the  good  bishop. 

The  lesson  of  forgiveness,  is  one  lesson  taught  us  by  the  crucifixion 
of  our  Saviour. 

The  second  lesson  we  are  here  taught  is — the  lesson  of  duty  to  our 
parents. 

When  we  think  of  Jesus  hanging  on  the  cross,  and  bearing  all  the 
dreadful  pains  of  crucifixion,  it  seems  to  us  that  he  must  have  been  so 
fully  occupied  with  his  own  terrible  sufferings,  as  to  have  had  no  thought, 
or  feeling  for  any  one  but  himself  But  it  was  not  so.  He  did  not  for- 
get his  duty  to  his  mother  even  then.  He  saw  her  standing  by  his  cross 
weeping.  Joseph,  her  husband,  was  no  doubt  dead.  She  would  have  no 
one  now  to  take  care  of  her.  John,  the  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved,  was 
standing  near  his  mother.  Jesus  looked  at  his  mother,  and  told  her  to 
consider  John  as  her  own  son.  Then  he  looked  at  John,  and  turning  his 
eye  to  the  weeping  Mary,  he  told  John  to  treat  her  as  his  own  mother. 
And  from  that  time  John  took  the  mother  of  Jesus  to  his  own  home,  and 
took  care  of  her,  as  if  she  had  been  his  own  mother.  How  thoughtful 
and  tender  this  was  in  Jesus !  How  much  it  was  like  the  loving  Saviour! 
And  how  touchingly  we  may  learn  from  this  crucifixion  scene  the  lesson 


THE    CRUCIFIXION. 


787 


of  our  duty  to  our  parents,  and  especially  to  our  mothers !  No  child  can 
ever  fully  repay  a  faithful,  loving  mother,  for  all  that  she  has  done.  Let 
us  try  to  follow  the  example  which  Jesus  set  us  from  the  cross,  about  our 
duty  to  our  parents. 

Let  us  look  at  some  examples  of  those  who  have  learned  and  prac- 
tised this  lesson. 

The  Polish  Prince. — Here  is  a  story  of  a  Polish  prince  who  had  a 


The  Spectators  of  the  Crucifixion. 


very  good  father.  This  young  man  was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  the  pic- 
ture of  his  father  in  his  bosom.  And  when  he  was  tempted  to  do  any- 
thing that  was  wrong,  he  would  take  out  this  picture  and  look  at  it,  saying, 
"  Let  me  do  nothing  that  would  grieve  my  good  father." 

Ashamed  to  tell  Mother. — Some  boys  were  playing  one   day,  after 
school.     Among  them  was  a  little  fellow,  whom  his  companions  were  try- 


;88  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

ing  to  tempt  to  do  something  wrong.     "  I  can't  do  it,"  said  he,   "  because 
I  should  be  ashamed  to  tell  mother  of  it." 

"Well,  but  you  needn't  tell  her;  and  she  won't  know  anything  about 
it." 

"  But  I  should  know  all  about  it  myself,  and  I'd  feel  mighty  mean  if 
I  wouldn't  tell  mother!" 

The  boys  laughed  at  him  and  said,  "  The  idea  of  a  boy  running  and 
telling  his  mother  every  little  thing!     What  a  pity  you  weren't  a  girl !" 

"  You  may  laugh  about  it,  as  much  as  you  please,"  said  the  noble  little 
fellow,  "  but  I've  made  up  my  mind  never,  as  long  as  I  live,  to  do  any- 
thing I  would  be  ashamed  to  tell  my  mother."  That  boy  was  a  hero.  He 
was  doing  just  what  Jesus  would  have  done,  in  his  place.  Many  a  boy 
would  have  been  saved  from  ruin  if  he  had  only  acted  in  this  way. 

Honoring  his  Mother. — "  Is  there  a  vacant  place  in  this  bank,  which  I 
could  fill  ?"  asked  a  boy  with  a  glowing  face,  as  he  stood,  with  cap  in 
hand,  before  the  president  of  the  bank. 

"There  is  none,"  was  the  reply.  "Were  you  told  that  we  want- 
ed a  boy  ?     Who  recommended  you  ?" 

"  No  one  recommended  me,  sir,"  calmly  said  the  boy.  "  I  only  thought 
I  would  see." 

There  was  an  honesty  and  manliness  about  the  lad,  which  pleased 
the  president,  and  led  him  to  continue  the  conversation. 

"  You  must  have  friends  who  could  help  you  in  getting  a  situation ; 
have  you  told  them  ?" 

With  a  saddened  feeling,  the  boy  said,  "My  mother  told  me  it  would 
be  useless  to  try  without  friends,"  then  apologizing  for  the  interruption,  he 
turned  to  go  away;  but  the  gentleman  detained  him,  saying,  "Why  don't 
you  stay  at  school,  a  year  or  two  longer,  my  young  friend,  and  then  try  to 
get  a  situation  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  time  for  school,"  was  his  reply.  "  I  study  at  home,  and 
keep  up  with  the  other  boys  as  well  as  I  can." 

"Then  you  have  had  a  place  already,"  said  the  officer,  "why  did  you 
leave  it?" 

"  I  have  not  left  it,  sir,"  quietly  answered  the  boy. 

"  But  you  wish  to  leave  it.     What  is  the  matter  ?" 


THE    CRUCIFIXION.  791 


The  boy  was  confounded  for  a  moment — but  presently  said — "  I  want 
to  do  more  for  my  mother,  sir." 

These  brave  words  of  the  boy  touched  the  gentleman's  heart.  And 
grasping  the  hand  of  the  little  fellow  he  said : — "  My  boy,  what  is  your 
name  ?  and  where  do  you  live  ?  You  shall  have  the  first  vacancy,  for  a  boy, 
that  occurs  in  the  bank.  And  in  the  meantime  if  you  need  a  friend  come 
to  me.  But  now  tell  me  frankly,  why  do  you  wish  to  do  more  for  your 
mother?     Have  you  no  father?" 

The  boy's  eyes  filled  with  tears.  He  had  to  make  an  effort  before  he 
could  speak.     But  recovering  himself  directly  he  said : — 

"  My  father  is  dead :  my  brothers  and  sisters  are  dead.  My  mother 
and  I  are  left  alone  to  help  each  other.  But  she  is  not  strong,  and  I  wish 
to  do  all  I  can  for  her.  It  will  please  her,  Sir,  that  you  have  been  so 
kind  to  me,  and  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you."  And  then,  leaving  his 
name  and  residence  with  the  gentleman,  he  made  a  bow  and  retired. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  president  of  that  bank  called  to  see  this 
boy  and  his  mother.  He  cheered  their  hearts  by  telling  them  that  he  had 
a  situation  for  the  boy,  who  found  a  warm  friend  in  him  as  long  as  he 
lived.  God's  blessing  followed  that  boy,  and  he  rose  to  occupy  an  impor- 
tant position  in  the  bank.  And  God's  blessing  will  always  follow  those 
who  learn,  and  practice,  the  lesson  Jesus  taught  us  on  the  cross — of  honor- 
ing our  parents. 

The  third  lesson,  we  may  learn  from  the  crucifixion  is  about — the 
power  and  willingness  of  yesus  to  save. 

This  lesson  is  taught  us  by  what  took  place  between  Jesus  and  the 
dying  thief,  as  they  each  hung  upon  the  cross.  Jesus  was  crucified  be- 
tween two  thieves.  One  of  them  cast  reproaches  upon  Jesus,  as  he  hung 
by  his  side.  The  other  rebuked  his  fellow  thief;  and  then,  turning  his  eyes 
towards  Jesus,  said — "  Lord,  remember  me  when  thou  comest  into  thy 
kingdom. "  Jesus,  at  once  heard  and  accepted  his  prayer,  and  told  the 
thief  that  he  should  be  with  him  in  paradise  that  day.  This  was  one  of 
the  most  wonderful  things  that  took  place  in  connection  with  the  cruci- 
fixion of  our  Saviour.  There  were  many  wonders  in  it.  It  was  won- 
derful that  this  dying  thief  should  have  understood,  so  clearly  as  he 
did,    the    true    character    of  Jesus.      It    was  wonderful  that  he   should 


792  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

have  had  faith  to  trust  the  salvation  of  his  soul  to  one  who  was  dying 
what  seemed  to  be  a  criminal's  death.  It  was  wonderful  that  he  should 
have  repented  truly  of  his  sins,  and  have  prayed  earnestly,  as  he  did, 
while  hanging  on  the  cross.  It  was  wonderful  that  Jesus  was  able  and 
willing  to  pardon  him,  to  change  his  heart,  and  make  him  fit  for  heaven 
at  the  last  hour  of  his  life.  And  it  was  wonderful  that  Jesus  was  so  ready 
to  help  and  save  another,  at  the  very  time  when  he  was  suffering  so  much 
himself  The  apostle  Paul  tells  us  that  "  he  is  able  to  save  unto  the  iit- 
terniost,Sk\os>t\\\vo  come  unto  God  through  him,"  Heb.  vii:  25.  There 
could  not  be  a  more  striking  illustration  of  the  power  and  willingness  of 
Jesus  to  save  sinners,  than  we  have  here  in  the  case  of  the  dying  thief 

But  illustrations  of  the  same  kind,  though  not  so  striking  as  this,  do 
often  occur. 

The  Cleansing  Fomitain. — There  was  once  a  man  who  had  been  a 
very  great  sinner.  He  had  long  been  in  the  habit  of  committing  all  sorts 
of  wickedness.  But  at  last  he  grew  weary  of  his  evil  ways,  and  wanted 
to  become  a  Christian.  But  he  thought  his  sins  were  too  great  to  be  for- 
given. A  Christian  man  talked  and  prayed  with  him.  To  encourage 
him  he  repeated  the  first  verse  of  the  hymn,  which  says — 

"  There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood 
Drawn  from   Immanuel's  veins  ; 
And  sinners  plunged  beneath  that  flood 
Lose  all  their  guilty  stains  :" 

But  the  poor  man  shook  his  head,  and  said,  "  There's  nothing  in  that 
for  me.  My  sins  are  too  great  to  be  washed  away."  Then  his  friend  re- 
peated the  second  verse : 

"  The  dying  thief  rejoiced  to  see 
That  fountain  in  his  day; 
And  there  may  I,  though  vile  as  he 
Wash  all  my  sins  away." 

"That  means  ;wg,"  said  the  penitent  sinner.  He  was  encouraged  to 
pray  to  Jesus,  and  he  found  that  he  was  able  and  willing  to  save  him. 


,  THE    CRUCIFIXION. 


793 


Mitchle  Bess — A  Hopeless  Case: — This  was  the  name  of  a  woman 
who  lived  in  Scotland  many  years  ago.  Her  history  illustrates  very  well 
the  point  now  before  us,  and  shows  the  power  and  willingness  of  Christ 
to  save.  She  was  the  daughter  of  a  good,  pious  farmer.  But  she  was 
led  into  evil  company.     She  left  her  father's   house,  and  became  a  most 


They  cast  lots  for  his  raiment. 


wicked  and  abandoned  woman.  She  was  a  terror  to  every  one,  even  to 
the  wicked  people  among  whom  she  had  gone  to  live.  At  last  she  left 
them,  and  spent  her  time  in  wandering  among  the  highlands,  living  like 
a  wild  beast,  stealing  what  she  could  get  to  eat,  or  to  wear,  and  sleeping 


794  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

in  barns,  or  stables,  in  sheepfolds,  or  in  the  dens  and  caves  of  the  moun- 
tains. She  used  to  roam  over  the  country  begging,  or  stealing,  cursing 
and  swearing,  and  doing  all  sorts  of  wicked  things.  Every  body  was 
afraid  of  her.  No  one  thought  of  speaking  to  her,  or  even  of  praying  for 
her ;  and  every  one  looked  upon  her  case  as  hopeless. 

At  one  time,  when  Muckle  Bess  had  passed  middle  life,  there  was  a 
great  religious  interest  among  the  churches  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

On  one  Sabbath  day  they  were  holding  services  in  the  open  air.  A 
great  crowd  of  people  had  gathered  round  the  minister.  To  the  surprise 
of  every  one,  who  should  appear,  at  the  outside  of  the  crowd,  but  poor 
Bess.  Ragged,  and  wild-looking,  she  seemed  just  like  the  witch  of 
Endor.  The  women  trembled  at  the  sight  of  her,  and  the  men  thought 
she  had  only  come  for  mischief  But  she  sat  quietly  down  on  the  grass, 
and  listened  to  the  preaching.  It  led  her  to  think  of  her  wicked  life,  and 
filled  her  heart  with  anguish.  Presently  she  rose  to  her  feet,  stretched 
out  her  brawny  arms,  and  cried  in  tones  of  agony  that  melted  the  hearts 
of  all  who  heard  her,  "  Oh,  thou  God  o"  my  fathers ;  oh,  thou  God  o' 
bonnie  Scotland,  that  has  been  steeped  in  blood  for  thy  name's  sake;  look 
on  me  a  wretched  sinner,  who  has  scorned  thee,  and  robbed  thee,  and 
defied  thee !  Hast  thou  na'  promised  cleansin'  to  them  whose  sins  are 
scarlet  and  crimson  ?  And  whose  sins  are  o'  deeper  dye  than  mine  ? 
God,  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner !"  And  then  she  sank  sobbing  to  the 
earth. 

The  stillness  of  death  was  over  that  congregation.  The  minister 
paused  till  poor  Bess's  sobs  were  no  longer  heard.  Then  he  went  on  with 
the  sermon.  He  spoke  of  the  love  of  Christ  in  being  willing  to  suffer  and 
to  die  for  us.  He  told  of  his  power  and  readiness  to  pardon  and  save,  all 
who  truly  turn  to  him,  and  referred  to  the  case  of  the  dying  thief  to 
prove  the  truth  of  what  he  said.  This  touched  the  heart  of  poor  Bess, 
and  led  her  to  feel  that  there  might  be  hope,  even  for  her.  Then  she  rose 
to  her  feet  again,  and  cried,  "  Hear  me,  ye  people  o'  God  !  Hear  me,  ye 
angels  above !  Hear  me,  ye  powers  o'  evil,  while  I  vow  afore  ye  all,  that 
I  will  e'en  tak'  him  at  his  word,  and  leave  it  there  I" 

From  that  time  Muckle  Bess  became  a  changed  woman.  She  went 
back  to  her  father's  house  to  live.     But  she  occupied  her  time  in  going 


THE    CRUCIFIXION. 


795 


from  house  to  house,  to  tell  the  story  of  Jesus  and  his  love.  And  the  rest 
of  her  life  she  spent  in  speaking  kind  words,  and  doing  kind  acts,  to  all 
about  her.  She  was  never  tired  of  telling,  with  tears  of  heartfelt  grati- 
tude, what  Jesus  had  done  for  her  soul. 

How  beautifully  this  story  illustrates  the  power  and  willingness  of 
Jesus  to  save  I 

The  fourth  lesson  we  learn  from  the  crucifixion  of  Christ,  is  about 
— the  depth  of  his  sufferings. 


A  farm-house  in  Scotland. 


The  sufferings  of  his  body  were  very  great.  When  the  Roman  sol- 
diers beat  him  on  the  back  with  their  rods,  his  flesh  was  torn,  and  made 
to  quiver  with  pain.  Then  his  brow  was  torn  by  the  sharp  points  of  the 
crown  of  thorns,  that  were  pressed  upon  his  head.  His  hands  and  feet 
were  torn  by  the  rough  cruel  nails,  that  were  driven  through  them. 
And  when  the  cross  was  set  upright  in  the  earth,  and  his  body  was  hang- 
ing by  those  nails,  who  can  tell  the  agony  that  must  have  been  wringing 
every  nerve  in  it?     Think  of  him  as  hanging  thus  for  three  or  four  dread- 


796  THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

ful  hours !  how  long  the  moments  must  have  seemed  that  made  up  those 
hours !  And  if  he  tried  to  change  his  position,  in  the  shghtest  degree, 
every  movement  must  have  increased  the  torture  he  was  feehng,  a  hun- 
dred fold. 

But  this  was  not  all :  this  was  not  half  the  suffering  that  Jesus  en- 
dured. If  he  had  been  feeling  peaceful  and  comfortable  in  his  mind,  wjiile 
all  this  was  going  on,  he  would  not  have  cared  much  for  these  bodily 
pains.  But  he  had  no  such  feeling.  His  mind  or  soul  was  enduring 
sufferings  much  worse  than  those  which  the  scourges,  and  the  crown  of 
thorns,  and  the  crucifixion,  caused  to  his  body.  He  said  to  his  disciples 
as  he  entered  Gethsemane — "My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto 
death."  This  was  the  sorrow  he  felt  from  thinking  that  his  Father  in 
heaven  was  angry  with  him,  and  was  looking  at  him  as  if  he  were  a  sinner. 
He  had  taken  our  sins  upon  himself,  and  God  was  treating  him  as  if 
he  had  really  been  a  sinner.  He  was  bearing  the  wrath  of  God  that  we 
had  deserved,  for  our  sins.  The  apostle  Paul  tells  us  that — "  He  was 
made  a  curse  for  us."  Gal.  iii:  13.  We  cannot  understand  what  Jesus  had 
to  feel  when  this  curse  came  down  upon  him.  But  it  was  this  which  wrung 
from  him  that  bitter  cry,  when  the  darkness  came  around  him,  as  he  hung 
upon  the  cross — "  My  God  !  My  God  !  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?" 

This  made  the  sufferings  that  Jesus  bore  for  us,  greater  than  we  can 
tell,  and  greater  than  we  can  understand. 

This  part  of  our  subject  we  must  leave  without  attempting  any  illus- 
tration. There  never  was  any  sorrow,  or  suffering,  like  that  which  he  bore 
for  us.  I  know  of  nothing  that  could  be  used  as  an  illustration  here. 
This  thought  of  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  is  like  one  of  those  places  in  the 
ocean  which  is  so  deep,  that  we  cannot  get  aline  long  enough  to  reach  the 
bottom. 

And  then  the  last  lesson  for  us  to  learn  from  the  crucifixion  of  Christ 

is  about — THE  WONDERS  OF  HIS  LOVE. 

The  apostle  Paul  tells  us  that  the  love  of  Christ — '' passeth  know- 
ledger  Ephes.  iii:  19.  He  says  the  riches  of  this  love  are  ''unsearchable" 
The  love  of  Christ  is  like  a  mountain,  so  high  that  we  cannot  climb  to  the 
top  of  it.  It  is  like  a  valley,  so  deep  that  we  cannot  get  down  to  the 
bottom  of  it.     It  is  like  a  plain,  so  broad  that  we  cannot  get  to  the  begin- 


THE    CRUCIFIXION. 


797 


ning  of  it,  on  the  one  hand,  or  to  the  end  of  it  on  the  other.  And  when 
we  are  looking  at  Jesus  as  he  hangs  upon  the  cross,  we  are  in  the  best 
position  we  ever  can  occupy,  for  trying  to  understand  the  wonders  of  his 
love.     It  was  the  love  of  Jesus  which  made  him  willing  to  come  down 


He  was  made  a  curse  for  us.' 


from  heaven,  and  "humble  himself  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross." 
It  was  the  love  of  Jesus  which  made  him  willing  to  be  nailed  to  the  cross, 
and  to  hang  there  in  agony  and  blood,  till  as  the  Te  Deum  says,  he  had 
"overcome  the  sharpness  of  death,  and  had  opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
to  all  believers."     And  as  we  stand  before  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  think 


798  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

of  the  depth  of  his  sufferings,  and  the  wonders  of  his  love,  we  may  well 
ask  in  the  language  of  the  hymn, — 

"  O  Lamb  of  God !  was  ever  pain. 
Was  ever  love  like  Thine?" 

And  it  is  this  wonderful  love  of  Jesus,  in  dying  for  us,  which  gives 
to  the  story  of  the  cross  the  strange  power  it  has  over  the  hearts  of  men. 

The  Influence  of  the  Love  of  Christ. — We  are  so  accustomed  to  hear 
of  the  blessed  Saviour,  and  his  amazing  love,  that  it  often  gets  to  be  a 
familiar  story  to  us,  and  so  it  does  not  have  its  proper  influence  on  our 
hearts.  But  it  is  different  with  the  missionaries  of  the  gospel.  When 
they  tell  the  heathen  about  Jesus,  and  his  love,  it  is  new  to  them,  and 
sometimes  it  has  a  strange  effect  upon  them.     Here  is  an  instance  of  this: 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Nott,  an  English  missionary  in  the  South  Sea  Islands, 
was  reading  the  third  chapter  of  the  gospel  of  St.  John  to  a  number  of 
the  natives.  Presently  he  came  to  that  wonderful  statement  in  the  i6th 
verse,  "God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that 
whosoever  believeth  on  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life." 
When  he  heard  this,  one  of  the  natives  said,  "What  words  were  those 
you  read  ?  Let  me  hear  those  words  again."  The  missionary  read  the 
verse  again,  slowly,  and  deliberately.  On  hearing  them  again,  the  native 
rose  and  said,  "  Is  that  so  ?  Can  it  be  true  that  God  loved  the  world, 
when  the  world  did  not  love  him  ?"  "  It  is  true,"  said  the  missionary. 
"And  this  is  the  message  we  brijig  you.  If  you  believe  in  Jesus,  and  his 
love,  it  will  save  your  soul,  and  make  you  happy  forever."  This  wonder- 
ful love  of  Jesus,  won  that  heathen's  heart,  and  he  became  a  Christian. 

This  illustrates  what  the  Apostle  Paul  means  when  he  says,  "  the 
love  of  Christ  constraineth  us."  To  constrain,  means  to  draw.  The  power 
which  the  gospel  has  to  draw  men's  hearts  to  God  is  in  the  love  of  Christ. 

The  Power  of  Love.  A  teacher  was  giving  a  lesson  to  a  class  of  child- 
ren, on  metals  and  minerals.  They  were  told  that  gold  could  be  melted, 
and  that  all  metals  could  be  melted.  Then  the  teacher  asked ;  "  Can 
stones  be  melted  ?  ' 

"Yes,"  said  a  little  boy;  "stones  are  melted  in  volcanoes." 

"That  is  true  ;  and  now,  can  you  tell  me  what  can  melt  a  heart  as 
hard  as  stone  ?" 


THE    CRUCIFIXION. 


799 


3R£5     PEH-03 


The  Sacrifice  of  Tesus  substituted  for  the  Ancient  Law. 


After  thinking  for  a  few  minutes,  the  little  boy  said ;  "I  think  it  is  God 
only  who  can  melt  a  hard  heart." 

"  You  are  right,  my  child ;  and  now  can  you  tell  me  how  does  God 
melt  hard  hearts?" 


goo  THE  LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 


"  It  is  by  his  love." 

"You  are  right  again,  my  child;  it  is  the  love  of  God  that  melts  stony 
hearts.  And  it  is  by  giving  his  Son  to  die  for  us,  that  God  shows  his 
ove. 

Here  is  a  very  striking  story  to  show  the  power  of  the  love  of  Christ 
in  melting  a  hard  heart.     We  may  call  it, 

Hope  for  the  Lost. — Charles  Anderson  was  the  son  of  a  sailor.  His 
father  was  drowned  at  sea.  Charles  was  left  an  orphan,  in  a  seaport  town 
in  England.  Having  no  one  to  take  care  of  him,  he  got  in  with  bad  boys, 
and  grew  up  an  idle,  careless,  swearing,  drunken  young  man.  In  a 
drunken  spree  one  night,  he,  and  his  companions,  broke  into  a  house  and 
robbed  it.  He  was  taken  to  prison,  tried,  and  sentenced  to  seven  years 
transportation  to  New  South  Wales.  After  his  arrival  there,  thinking  that 
he  was  unjustly  punished,  he  became  sulky,  obstinate,  and  rebellious.  He 
cared  for  no  rules.  He  minded  no  orders,  but  did  just  as  he  pleased. 
For  his  bad  conduct  he  was  flogged  again  and  again.  But  punishment  did 
him  no  good.  He  grew  worse  and  worse.  He  became  so  thoroughly  bad 
and  unmanageable,  that  at  last,  he  was  sentenced  to  receive  three  hundred 
lashes  on  his  bare  back,  and  to  be  chained,  for  two  years,  to  a  barren  rock, 
that  stood  by  itself  in  the  middle  of  the  harbor  of  Sydney.  The  wretched 
man  was  fastened  by  his  waist,  to  this  rock,  with  a  chain  twenty-six  feet 
long. 

He  had  irons  on  his  legs,  and  had  hardly  a  rag  to  cover  him.  His 
only  bed  was  a  hollow  place  scooped  out  in  the  rock.  He  had  no  other 
shelter  than  a  wooden  lid,  with  holes  bored  in  it.  This  was  locked  over 
him  at  night,  and  removed  in  the  morning.  If  he  had  been  a  wild  beast, 
instead  of  a  man,  he  could  hardly  have  been  treated  worse.  His  food 
was  pushed  to  him  once  a  day,  in  a  box,  with  a  long  pole.  Sometimes  peo- 
ple going  by  in  boats,  would  throw  him  pieces  of  bread  or  biscuit.  But 
no  one  was  allowed  to  go  near  him,  or  speak  to  him.  Thus  he  spent  two 
long  years,  a  prisoner  on  that  lonely  rock.  Of  course,  he  grew  no  better, 
but  worse,  under  such  treatment.  When  his  time  was  out,  and  he  was  re- 
leased from  the  rock,  he  behaved  so  badly,  that  very  soon  he  was  taken  up 
again,  and  sent  a  prisoner  to  Norfolk  Island,  to  work  in  chains  for  the  rest 
of  his  life. 


Calvar>' ;  where  they  crucified  Him. 


8oi 


THE    CRUCIFIXION.  803 

Now,  what  good  could  possibly  be  expected  from  such  a  man?  None 
at  all,  if  the  same  hard  treatment  had  been  continued  towards  him.  But 
it  was  not  continued.  No,  at  Norfolk  Island,  he  came  under  the  care  of  a 
good  Christian  gentleman.  This  was  Capt.  Maconochie,  an  officer  of  the 
English  army.  He  had  great  faith  in  the  power  of  kindness  and  love. 
He  found  this  man  Anderson,  one  of  the  very  worst  men  he  had  ever  met 
with;  but  he  resolved  to  try  the  power  of  the  gospel  upon  him.  He  treated 
him  kindly,  as  one  man  ought  to  treat  another.  He  got  him  to  attend  a 
night  school  which  he  had  opened,  and  there  had  him  taught  to  read. 
Then  he  persuaded  him  to  join  a  Bible  class  which  he  taught.  He  showed 
an  interest  in  him,  and  sympathy  for  him.  He  often  took  him  apart  by 
himself,  and  talked  kindly  to  him.  He  told  him  of  the  wonderful  lo\-e  of 
Jesus,  as  shown  in  the  story  of  the  cross.  This  touched,  and  melted  the 
hard  and  stony  heart  of  that  desperate  man.  He  wept  like  a  child,  at  the 
thought  of  his  life  of  sin.  He  prayed  earnestly  for  pardon,  and  found  it. 
Charles  Anderson — the  fierce,  unmanageable  man — the  man  who  had  been 
chained,  like  a  wild  beast  to  that  lonely  rock,  became  a  Christian.  And 
he  was  a  thoroughly  changed  man,  in  every  respect.  The  change  from 
midnight  to  mid-day,  from  mid-winter  to  mid-summer,  is  not  greater  than 
the  change  that  appeared  in  him.  From  being  an  ill-tempered,  gloomy, 
disobedient,  idle  man,  who  was  a  plague  to  all  about  him,  he  became  gen- 
tle, and  kind,  cheerful,  obedient,  and  trustworthy ;  a  man  who  gained  the 
respect  and  the  love  of  all  who  knew  him.  Capt.  Maconochie  got  him  re- 
leased from  being  a  prisoner,  on  account  of  his  good  behaviour.  Then  he 
took  him  into  his  own  service,  and  a  more  useful  and  excellent  servant  he 
never  had  in  all  his  life.  Here  we  see  the  power  of  the  love  of  Christ. 
And  so  when  we  think  of  the  history  of  the  crucifixion,  let  us  remember 
these  six  things, — the  place — the  time — the  manner — the  witnesses — the 
wonders — and  the  words — which  make  up  that  history.  And  when  \\^ 
think  of  the  lessons  it  teaches — let  us  remember,  the  lesson  of  forgive- 
ness— the  lesson  of  duty  to  our  parents — the  lesson  about  the  power  and 
willingness  of  Christ  to  save — about  the  depths  of  his  sufferings — and  the 
wonders  of  his  love. 

We  cannot  better  close  this  subject  than  with  the  words  of  the  hymn 
we  often  sing : 


;*--' 

's;^ 


■%^ 


"  When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross, 
On  which  the  Prince  of  glory  died, 
My  richest  gain  I  count  but  loss, 
And  pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride. 

Forbid  it,  Lord,  that  I  should  boast, 
Save  in  the  cross  of  Christ  my  God, 

All  the  vain  things  that  charm  me  most, 
I  sacrifice  them  to  his  blood. 

See  from  his  head,  his  hands,  his  feet. 
Sorrow  and  love  flow  mingled  down  ! 

Did  e'er  such  love  and  sorrow  meet, 
Or  thorns  compose  so  rich  a  crown  ? 

Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 
T/tat,  were  a  tribute  far  too  small; 

Love  so  amazing,  so  divine. 

Demands  my  life — my  soul — my  all." 


¥^:^ 


N 


^^^i- 

^•^\-^''  ,,:• 


fl^m^u^ 


a:"^ 


^^.  ,.  x^ 


804 


THE     DESCENT     FROM     THE     CROSS. 


T 


^v 


URIAL. 


IN  the  last  chapter,  we 
left  our  blessed  Lord  hang- 
ing dead  upon  the  cross. 
Deep  darkness  was  spread 
over  the  land,  as  if  to  hide 
from  view  the  awful  wick- 
edness which  men  were 
committing. 

We  have  now  to  con- 
sider what  became  of  the 
dead  Saviour  after  this. 
When  death  enters  our 
homes,  and  lays  his  icy 
hand,  on  some  one  whom 


r\ 


^ 


,:^  'BLESSED^RE  THE  DEAD  WHICH  DIE  IN  THE  LORD 


REV.. 
X\V-I3 


805 


8o6  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

we  love,  we  know  that  the  next  thing  to  follow  is  the  funeral.  We  have 
to  make  preparation,  as  Abraham  said  on  the  death  of  Sarah,  his  wife,  to 
"  bury  our  dead  out  of  our  sight."  Gen.  xxiii :  4.  And  so,  after  the  cruci- 
fi.Kion,  or  death  of  our  Saviour,  the  next  thing  for  us  to  consider  is — his 
burial.  We  have  an  account  of  this  burial  in  each  of  the  four  gospels.  We 
can  read  all  that  is  said  about  it  in  the  following  places : — St.  Math,  xxvii : 
56-66;  St.  Mark  xv:  42-47;  St.  Luke  xxiii:  50-56, and  St. John  xix:  38-42. 

The  history  of  the  burial  of  Christ,  given  in  these  different  places, 
briefly  stated  is,  that  as  soon  as  he  was  dead,  and  while  he  was  yet 
hanging  on  the  cross,  two  men  came  forward  and  took  charge  of  his 
burial.  One  of  these  is  called  "Joseph  of  Arimathea. "  We  know 
nothing  about  him  before  this.  His  name  was  never  mentioned  before, 
and  after  this  it  is  never  mentioned  again  in  the  Scriptures.  What 
we  are  told  about  him  is,  that  he  was  a  rich  man  —  an  honorable 
counsellor,  or  a  member  of  the  Jewish  Sanhedrim :  he  was  a  just  and 
good  man — a  disciple  of  Jesus — but  had  kept  his  thoughts  and  feelings  on 
this  subject  to  himself,  because  he  was  afraid  of  the  Jews.  And  with  him 
came  Nicodemus — of  whom  we  read  in  the  third  chapter  of  St.  John — ^who 
came  to  Jesus  by  night  to  have  a  talk  with  him  on  the  subject  of  religion. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Jewish  Sanhedrim,  and  "  a  ruler  of  the  Jews." 
Joseph  went  boldly  in  before  Pilate,  and  asked  permission  from  him  to  take 
the  body  of  Jesus  down  from  the  cross,  and  have  it  buried.  This  was  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  on  which  the  crucifixion  had  taken  place. 
Pilate  was  surprised  to  think  that  Jesus  could  have  died  so  soon.  Death 
by  crucifixion,  although  very  painful,  was  still,  a  lingering  death.  It  is 
said  that  cases  have  been  known,  of  persons  who  have  hung  upon  the 
cross  for  two  or  three  days,  before  death  put  an  end  to  their  sufferings. 
We  do  not  wonder,  therefore,  that  Pilate  should  have  felt  surprised,  when 
he  heard  that  Jesus,  who  was  crucified  about  1 2  o'clock,  should  have  been 
dead  about  three  o'clock  the  same  afternoon.  He  sent  for  the  centurion, 
who  had  charge  of  the  crucifixion,  and  asked  if  it  was  true  that  Jesus  was 
already  dead.  The  centurion  had  carefully  examined  the  body,  and  told 
Pilate  that  he  was  really  dead. 

Then  Pilate  gave  Joseph,  and  Nicodemus,  permission  to  take  down 
the  body,  and  bury  it.     Immediately  they  went  back  to  Calvary,  and  took 


THE   BURIAL.  807 


the  body  of  Jesus  down  from  the  cross.  They  could  hardly  do  it  by 
themselves,  and  they  had,  no  doubt,  engaged  some  other  persons  to  help 
them.  We  are  not  told  how  the  body  was  taken  down.  In  the  art  gallery, 
at  Antwerp  in  Holland,  there  is  a  famous  painting  of  this  scene,  by  Rubens 
the  celebrated  Dutch  artist.  It  is  called — "The  Descent  from  the  Cross." 
Here,  Joseph  and  Nicodemus  are  represented  as  having  set  up  ladders 
against  the  cross.  They  have  climbed  up  the  ladder,  and  have  drawn  out 
the  nails,  and  then  we  see  them  carefully  handing  down  the  dead  body  of 
our  blessed  Lord.     This  would  be  one  way  of  taking  the  body  down. 

Another  way  would  be  to  lift  the  cross  up  from  the  place  in  the  earth, 
where  it  was  fastened,  and  lay  it  carefully  down  on  the  ground,  with  the 
body  of  Jesus  still  nailed  to  it.  It  would  be  much  easier  to  get  the  nails 
out,  with  the  cross  in  this  position,  than  while  it  was  standing  upright.  But 
we  are  not  told  how  it  was  done,  and  so  we  are  at  liberty  to  think  of  either 
of  these  ways  as  the  one  that  was  adopted.  And  now,  the  mangled  body 
of  the  dead  Saviour  is  removed  from  the  cross.  Then,  it  is  reverently 
wrapped  in  the  linen,  which  Joseph  had  brought  with  him  for  this  purpose. 
Nicodemus  had  brought  a  hundred  pounds  weight  of  spices,  myrrh  and 
aloes.  These  were  probably  in  the  form  of  powder.  It  was  the  custom 
of  the  Jews  to  use  these  spices  in  the  burial  of  the  dead,  because  they  have 
the  power  of  preventing  decay  from  taking  place  immediately. 

In  a  warm  country  like  Palestine,  decay  begins  very  soon  after  death. 
And  in  a  body  that  had  been  torn  and  mangled,  as  was  the  case  with  the 
body  of  Jesus,  it  would  take  place  still  sooner.  And  so  the  use  of  these 
spices  was  necessary. 

No  doubt  the  wounds  made  by  the  nails  in  the  hands  and  feet  of  our 
Saviour,  and  the  gash  of  the  spear  in  his  blessed  side,  were  gently  filled 
with  those  powdered  spices.  And  then  the  spices  were  put  freely  in,  be- 
tween the  folds  of  the  linen  that  were  wrapped  about  his  dead  cold  limbs. 
The  Jews  did  not  use  coffins.  Their  dead  were  only  wrapped  in  grave- 
clothes,  as  was  the  case  with  Lazarus,  and  here  with  our  Lord. 

And  now  the  preparations  are  made.  The  body  is  ready  for  the  burial. 
And  the  grave  is  ready  for  the  body.  Near  to  Calvary,  where  Jesus  was 
crucified,  there  was  a  garden.  And  in  that  garden  was  a  new  tomb,  in 
which  no  dead  body  had  ever  lain.     This  tomb  was  dug  out  from  the  solid 


8o8  THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

rock.  The  rocks  around  Jerusalem  are  filled  with  such  tombs.  They  are 
not  generally  dug  down,  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  as  we  make  our 
graves,  but  into  the  side  of  the  rock,  and  on  a  level  with  the  ground. 
This  tomb  belonged  to  Joseph  of  Arimathea.  It  had,  no  doubt,  been 
made  for  himself  and  family.  How  little  he  thought  when  he  had  that 
new  tomb  made,  that  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  Redeemer  of  the 
world,  would  be  the  first  one  to  occupy  it !  What  an  honor  and  privilege 
Joseph  had,  in  being  permitted  to  furnish  the  tomb  in  which  the  dead 
body  of  the  Lord  of  life,  was  to  rest  till  the  morning  of  the  resurrection ! 

And  now,  the  funeral  procession  is  formed.  Joseph  and  Nicodemus, 
and  their  helpers,  take  reverently  hold  of  the  body  of  Jesus,  and  bear  it 
quietly,  and  solemnly,  away  to  the  open  tomb  in  yonder  garden.  No 
doubt  the  good  women,  who  lingered  round  the  cross,  joined  in  the  pro- 
cession, and  followed  the  body  of  their  Lord  to  the  place  w^here  it  was  to 
lie.  They  reach  the  tomb.  On  the  rocky  floor  of  that  tomb,  the  lifeless 
body  of  Jesus  is  gently  laid.  They  linger  in  silence  around  it.  They 
gaze  at  it  with  loving  wonder  and  amazement:  Then  they  go  out.  A 
great  stone  is  rolled  against  the  mouth  of  the  tomb.  And  now,  all  that 
loving  hearts  can  suggest,  or  willing  hands  can  do  for  the  buried  one  has 
been  done.  They  pause  awhile  to  meditate  on  that  silent  tomb,  and  then 
slowly  retire  to  their  homes,  to  prepare  for  the  Jewish  Sabbath,  which  be- 
gan at  six  o'clock  on  Friday  evening. 

But  there  is  one  other  thing  to  notice  in  connection  with  this  burial. 
The  priests  had  heard  Jesus  speak  of  rising  from  the  dead  on  the  third 
day.  They  went  to  Pilate  and  told  him  of  this.  They  said  they  were 
afraid  that  his  disciples  might  come  by  night  and  steal  away  his  body,  and 
then  declare  that  h-e  had  risen  from  the  dead.  They  asked  him,  therefore, 
to  allow  them  to  seal  the  stone  over  the  mouth  of  the  grave,  with  his  seal, 
and  to  have  a  guard  of  Roman  soldiers  appointed  to  keep  watch  over  the 
tomb,  till  the  third  day  was  passed.  Pilate  gave  them  leave  to  do  this. 
.'\nd  we  read,  "  so  they  went  and  made  the  sepulchre  sure,  sealing  the 
stone,  and  setting  a  watch."  St.  Matthew  xxvii :  66. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  burial  of  our  Saviour.  And  as  we  stand, 
in  thought,  before  the  silent  tomb  in  which  the  body  of  Jesus  is  lying,  we 
may  well  say,  in  the  words  of  one  of  our  hymns  for  Easter  even: 


"All  is  o'er,  the  pain,  the  sorrow, 
Human  taunts,  and  Satan's  spite ; 

Death  shall  be  despoiled  to-morrow 
Of  the  prey  he  grasps  to-night, 

Yet  once  more,  his  own  to  save, 

Christ  must  sleep  within  the  grave. 

Fierce  and  deadly  was  the  anguish 
On  the  bitter  cross  he  bore ; 

How  did  soul  and    body  languish, 
Till  the  toil  of  death  was  o'er! 

But  that  toil,  so  fierce  and  dread, 

Bruised  and  crushed  the  serpent's  head. 

Close  and  still  the  tomb  that  holds  him, 
While  in  brief  repose  he  lies ; 

Deep  the  slumber  that  enfolds  him. 
Veiled  awhile  from  mortal  eyes; 

Slumber  such  as  needs  must  be 

After  hard  won  victory. 

Near  this  tomb,  with  voice  of  sadness, 
Chant  the  anthem  soft  and  low; 

Loftier  strains  of  praise  and  gladness 
From  to-morrow's  harps  shall  flow ; 

Death  and  hell  at  length  are  slain, 

Christ  hath  triumphed,  Christ  doth  reign." 


\ 


809 


THE   BURIAL.  8ii 


This  is  the  history  of  the  burial  of  Christ.  And  now  we  may  speak 
of  four  lessons  taught  us  by  this  history. 

The  first   lesson   thus  taught  us  is  about — the  certainty  of  his 

DEATH. 

Sometimes  the  enemies  of  our  religion  have  ventured  to  say  that 
Jesus  did  not  really  die,  but  that  he  only  fainted,  or  swooned,  or  ap- 
peared to  die.  But  it  is  of  the  highest  importance  for  us  to  know  that 
Jesus  did  really  die.  When  we  are  saying  or  singing  that  grand  old  an- 
them— the  Te  Deum,  we  look  up  to  Jesus  and  say,  "  When  thou  had'st 
overcome  the  sharpness  of  death,  thou  did'st  open  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
to  all  believers."  By  Christ's  overcoming  the  sharpness  of  death,  is 
meant  his  resurrection  from  the  dead.  But,  if  his  resurrection  was  a  real 
resurrection,  then  the  death  from  which  he  rose,  must  have  been  a  real 
death.  We  cannot  come  out  of  a  state,  or  place,  if  we  have  never  been  in 
it.  It  is  impossible  that  you,  or  I,  for  example,  should  go  out  of  this 
church,  unless  we  were  first  in  it.  And  when  we  know  that  none  of  us 
could  enter  heaven,  unless  Jesus  had  really  died  for  us,  we  see  how  impor- 
tant it  is  for  us  to  be  sure  of  the  certainty  of  his  death. 

Now  there  was  one  thing  connected  with  the  burial  of  Christ  which 
proves  that  he  was  really  dead,  and  that  was  the  drawing  out  of  the  nails 
from  his  hands  and  feet.  When  a  great,  rough  nail,  or  spike,  has  been  driven 
into  a  piece  of  solid  wood,  we  know  how  hard  it  is  to  draw  it  out.  There 
were  two  such  spikes  driven  through  the  palms  of  the  hands  of  Jesus, 
and  two  through  his  feet.  In  trying  to  draw  these  out,  I  suppose  they 
must  have  made  use  of  a  large  pair  of  pincers,  or  of  a  hammer  with  a  claw 
on  one  side  of  it.  As  they  came  to  these  nails,  one  by  one,  they  would 
have  to  get  the  nippers  of  the  pincers,  or  the  claw  of  the  hammer  under 
the  head  of  the  nail.  Then  they  would  have  to  press  down  hard  on  the 
bruised  and  torn  part  of  the  hands  and  feet  of  our  Saviour.  Now  this 
must  have  been  so  very  painful,  tha',  if  he  had  only  fainted  on  the  cross 
this  dreadful  operation,  as  they  went  through  with  it  four  times,  would 
certainly  have  brought  him  out  from  his  fainting  fit.  But  it  did  not.  It 
had  not  the  slightest  effect  upon  him.  There  was  no  more  feeling  in  his 
hands' or  feet,  than  there  was  in  the  wood  of  the  cross  to  which  he  was 
nailed.     And  this  proves  that  he  was  really  dead. 


8i2  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

But  then  there  was  another  thing  which  took  place  at  the  crucifixion  oif 
Jesus,  which  also  proves  the  certainty  of  his  death.  We  read  in  St.  John 
xix :  34 — "  But  one  of  the  soldiers  with  a  spear  pierced  his  side,  and  forth- 
with came  there  out  blood  and  water."  If  Jesus  had  not  been  dead  before 
this  took  place,  that  cruel  spear,  thrust  into  his  heart,  would  certainly  have 
killed  him.  If  Jesus  had  been  alive  when  the  soldiers  did  this,  not  blood 
and  water,  but  only  blood,  would  have  flowed  out  from  the  wound,  which 
the  spear  made.  And  learned  physicians,  who  have  examined  this  matter, 
tell  us  that  two  things  are  clearly  proved  by  this  flowing  out  of  blood 
and  water,  from  the  wound  which  the  soldier's  spear  had  made  in  our 
Saviour's  side.  One  of  these  is,  that  he  was  already  dead.  The  soldier's 
spear  did  not  kill  him,  but  it  proved  that  he  was  dead  before  the  wound 
was  made. 

And  then  the  other  thing,  which  it  proved,  was  that  Jesus  had  died 
of  a  broken  heart.  In  Dr.  Hanna's  "Life  of  Christ,"  Vol.  III.  pp.  369-379 
may  be  found  letters,  from  several  eminent  Scottish  physicians,  showing 
that  nothing  but  a  broken  heart  could  account  for  the  flowing  out  of 
"  blood  and  water "  from  the  wound  in  our  Saviour's  side.  It  was  not 
being  nailed  to  the  cross  that  killed  our  blessed  Lord.  Neither  was 
it  the  wound  made  by  the  spear.  No,  but  it  was  the  great  sorrow 
he  had  felt  in  being  made  to  bear  our  sins,  that  had  really  broken  his 
heart. 

The  sixty-ninth  Psalm  is  one  of  the  passages  in  the  Old  Testament 
that  refers  to  Christ.  It  is  he  who  is  speaking  there.  And  in  the  twenti- 
eth verse  of  that  Psalm,  we  find  him  saying  of  himself,  "  Repyoacli  hath 
broken  my  heart!'  And  so  when  we  think  of  "  the  blood  and  water  "  that 
flowed  out  from  his  wounded  side,  and  of  the  drawing  out  of  those  nails 
from  his  hands  and  feet,  we  may  feel  perfectly  sure  about  the  certainty 
of  the  death  of  Christ. 

The  next  lesson  that  we  learn  from  the  burial  of  Christ,  is  about — the 

FULFILLMENT  OF  HIS  WORD. 

The  prophet  Isaiah  had  spoken  about  the  death  and  burial  of  our  Sa- 
iour,  seven  hundred  years  before  he  was  born  into  our  world.  In  the  ninth 
verse  of  the  fifty-third  chapter  of  his  prophecy,  where  he  is  speaking  of 
Jesus  he  says.  "  And  he  made  his  grave  with  the  wicked,  and  with  the 


THE    BURIAL.  813 


rich  in  his  death."  This  means  that  it  was  arranged,  or  intended,  that 
he  should  be  buried  with  the  wicked,  and  yet  it  would  so  happen  that  he 
would  be  with  the  rich  in  his  death.  We  can  easily  see  how  it  was  to  be 
expected  that  Jesus  would  be  buried  with  the  wicked,  because  he  died 
with  them.  He  was  crucified  between  two  thieves.  These  thieves  were 
buried  "with  the  wicked,"  or  in  the  place  where  common  criminals  were 
generally  buried.  And  as  Jesus  had  died  with  them,  so  it  was  to  be  ex- 
pected that  he  would  have  been  buried  with  them.  And  this  is  what 
would  have  happened,  if  God  had  not  ordered  it  otherwise.  The  disciples 
of  Jesus  had  all  forsaken  him.  And  even  if  they  had  not  done  so,  none  of 
them  were  rich.  Pilate  would  not  have  given  them  leave  to  take  charge 
of  the  body  of  their  dead  Master.  And  if  they  had  had  it,  they  could  not 
have  procured  a  rich  man's  grave  in  which  to  bury  it.  It  seemed  impos- 
sible, therefore,  that  what  Isaiah  had  spoken  should  come  to  pass.  But 
that  was  the  word  of  God.  It  was  written  in  the  scripture  that  Jesus  was 
to  be  "  with  the  rich  in  his  death."  And  "  the  scriptures  cannot  be 
broken."  God's  word  must  be  fulfilled.  And  so,  just  when  Jesus  was 
dying,  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  who  had  been  a  secret  disciple  of  Jesus,  made 
his  appearance.  He  was  a  rich  man.  He  had  a  sepulchre  near  at  hand. 
He  asked  Pilate  to  let  him  have  the  body  of  Jesus,  for  the  purpose  of  bury- 
ing it.  Pilate  gave  it  to  him.  He  buried  it  in  his  new  tomb.  And  so 
the  words  of  Isaiah  were  fulfilled  to  the  very  letter:  although  it  seemed 
impossible  before,  that  such  should  have  been  the  case.  Jesus  died  with 
the  wicked,  and  yet  was  buried  with  the  rich.  And  here  we  see  how  won- 
derfully God's  word  was  fulfilled. 

And  we  meet  with  instances,  continually,  to  show  that  God  is  still 
fulfilling  his  word  in  ways  that  are  equally  wonderful. 

Try  it. — A  Christian  woman,  rich  in  faith,  but  poor  in  this  world's 
goods,  was  greatly  perplexed  about  the  meaning  of  the  words,  "  Give, 
and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you."  She  said  to  herself:  "the  best  way  to 
find  out  the  meaning  of  such  a  promise,  is  to  try  it.     I'll  try  it." 

It  was  Saturday  night.  After  buying  what  her  children  would  need 
for  Sunday,  she  had  just  two  dollars  left.  Putting  this  money  in  her 
pocket,  she  went  out.  She  had  not  gone  far,  when  a  friend  met  her,  who 
was  in  great  distress,  and  asked  the  loan  of  two  dollars.     She  gave  the 


8i4  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

money  to  her  friend,  and  resolved  she  would  wait  and  see  how  God  would 
fulfill  his  word. 

Monday  morning  came.  She  had  nothing  with  which  to  buy  food  for 
her  family.  While  wondering  what  she  should  do — there  came  a  knock 
at  the  door.  On  opening  it  a  lady  came  in,  with  a  bundle  in  her  hand. 
"Can  you  do  some  work  for  me?"  she  asked.  "Certainly."  "What  will 
you  charge  ?"  The  price  was  named.  The  lady  put  two  dollars  in  her 
hand,  saying,  "  This  is  more  than  you  ask,  but  you  may  as  well  have  it." 

The  good  woman  shouted  for  joy.  She  had  tried  God's  promise,  and 
had  found  out  how  wonderfully  he  fulfils  his  word. 

The  Bnll-Finch. — Andrew  Austin  lived  in  Scotland.  He  was  a 
tailor  by  trade,  a  good,  honest,  christian  man,  but  very  poor.  At  the  time 
to  which  this  story  refers,  he  was  in  great  trouble.  Sickness  in  his  family 
had  used  up  all  his  money.  The  rent  of  his  cottage  was  due,  and  he  had 
nothing  to  pay  it  with.  "  What  shall  I  do  ?"  he  said  to  himself,  in  great 
distress.  He  took  down  his  Bible,  and  opened  it  at  the  book  of  Psalms. 
His  eye  rested  on  the  fourth  verse  of  the  seventy-second  Psalm — ''For 
he  shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he  crieth."  He  kneeled  down  and  told 
God  of  his  trouble,  and  asked  him  to  fulfill  that  promise  in  his  present 
distress.  As  he  rose  from  his  knees  his  heart  was  comforted,  and  he  felt 
sure  that  God  would  fulfill  his  word,  and  send,  in  some  way,  the  help 
that  was  needed. 

He  resolved  to  go  and  see  his  landlord,  and  ask  him  to  allow  him  a 
week's  time,  in  which  to  pay  the  rent. 

Just  as  he  opened  the  door  to  go  out,  a  little  bird  flew  past  him,  perch- 
ed upon  the  mantle-shelf,  and  hopped  about,  chirping  merrily.  Andrew 
closed  the  door,  and  watched  the  movements  of  the  little  fellow  with 
great  interest.  He  saw  that  it  was  a  bull-finch,  a  piping  bull-finch.  This 
is  a  bird  something  like  a  sparrow,  with  a  round  head  and  short  thick  bill. 
Bull-finches  are  great  singers.  They  can  learn  tunes,  and  carry  them  all 
through  nicely.  While  Andrew  was  watching  the  bird,  it  hopped  on  to 
the  Bible  which  he  had  just  been  reading,  and  lifting  up  its  little  head  be- 
gan to  sing  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred.  Of  course  the  bird  only  had  the 
music  without  the  words.  But  Andrew  joined  him,  and  put  in  the 
words : 


8i6  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

When  he  got  through  singing  this  verse,  the  old  man  felt  perfectly 
happy.  Leaving  the  little  stranger  in  his  room,  he  went  to  see  the  land- 
lord ;  and  as  he  walked  along  he  was  repeating  to  himself  the  words  of  the 
twenty-third  Psalm — "  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want." 

He  found  the  landlord  very  pleasant.  He  readily  gave  him  the  ad- 
ditional time  he  wanted  to  make  up  his  rent.  As  he  was  going  home 
feeling  very  bright  and  cheerful,  he  was  singing  to  a  simple  tune  these 
words  which  just  suited  his  circumstances: — 

"  The  birds,  without  barn  or  storehouse,  are  fed ; 
From  them  let  us  learn  to  trust  for  our  bread ; 
His  saints,  what  is  fitting,  shall  ne'er  be  denied. 
So  long  as  'tis  written,  "  The  Lord  will  provide." 

As  he  went  on,  he  was  spoken  to  by  a  servant  in  livery,  whom  he 
recognised,  at  once,  as  the  footman  of  Lady  Armistead,  a  rich  and  pious 
old  lady,  who  lived  at  Basford  Hall,  about  three  miles  from  the  village 
where  he  resided. 

"  You  seem  to  be  in  good  spirits,  Andrew"  said  the  servant,  who  was 
an  old  acquaintance.  "  You  sing  so  well,  one  would  think  you  had  swal- 
lowed Lady  Armistead's  bullfinch.  It's  been  missing  these  two  days.  I'm 
going  home  now,  for  it's  no  use  seeking  any  more.  Her  ladyship  takes 
on  dreadfully  about  the  bird,  for  it  was  a  great  favorite,  and  a  regular  tip- 
topper  at  singing." 

Then  Andrew  asked  him  to  go  home  with  him,  and  said  he  should 
find  his  bird  again.  As  they  walked  along  towards  the  cottage,  Andrew 
told  his  friend  the  story  of  his  troubles  ;  how  he  had  prayed  ;  what  God  had 
said  to  him  out  of  his  Book;  and  how  the  bullfinch  came  and  cheered  his 
heart ;  how  he  had  been  to  the  landlord's,  and  had  got  another  week  to 
turn  round  in ;  "  and  look  you  here  John  Morris,  my  rent'll  be  ready  when 
its  wanted,  as  sure  as  my  name's  Andrew;  for  that  bird  was  sent  from  my 
heavenly  Father,  and  brought  me  His  message  on  its  wings,  "for  his  mercy 
endureth  for  ever." 

So  John  got  the  bullfinch  and  took  it  home  to  his  mistress.  When 
she  heard  about  it,  Lady  Armistead  sent  for  the  tailor.     His  simple  story 


THE    BURIAL.  817 


moved  her  to  tears.  She  thought  more  of  her  bullfinch  than  ever,  since 
God  had  made  him  a  messenger  of  mercy  to  one  of  his  suffering  children. 
She  gave  the  tailor  money  enough  to  pay  his  rent,  and  told  him  that  he 
should  have  work  from  Basford  Hall  as  long  as  he  lived.  "God  bless 
your  ladyship,"  said  Andrew,  with  a  grateful  heart.  Just  then  the  bull- 
finch struck  up  its  favorite  tune,  and  Andrew  joined  in  the  song. 

"  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

Lady  Armistead  smiled  in  sympathy,  and  Andrew  added — "  Yes,  yes : 
Praise  the  Lord,  for  his  mercy  endureth  forever." 

Now  howexer  long  old  Andrew  niight  have  lived  after  that,  I  think 
he  would  never  read  over  that  verse  in  the  seventy-second  Psalm — "  He 
shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he  crieth,"  without  remembering  the  lesson 
we  are  here  taught  by  the  burial  of  Christ — and  that  is,  how  wonderfully 
He  fulfills  his  word. 

The  next  lesson  lue  leayn  from  t/ie  burial  of  Christ,  is  about — the 

WORKING  OF  HIS  PROVIDENCE. 

Suppose  that  we  are  looking  at  a  great  clock.  Its  wheels  are  moving 
slowly  on.  We  listen,  and  hear  it  going — tick-tick-tick.  The  hands  on 
the  dial  plate  are  getting  near  to  twelve  o'clock;  and  the  very  moment  the 
minute  hand  comes  directly  over  the  figure  12,  the  hammer  in  the  clock 
starts  up,  and  begins  to  pound  on  the  bell,  and  the  clock  strikes  twelve. 
The  maker  of  that  clock  arranged  every  part  of  its  machinery,  in  such  a 
way,  that  it  would  be  sure  to  keep  time,  and  strike  the  hours  as  they  came. 

And  the  providence  of  God  is  just  like  such  a  clock.  He  is  the 
maker  of  it.  And  he  not  only  made  the  wheels  of  its  machinery  in  the 
beginning,  but  he  manages  them  all  the  time.  He  has  his  hand  on  every 
part  of  it.  "  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son  " 
to  die  for  us.  He  was  willing  to  have  him  crucified  with  wicked  men. 
But  he  wished  to  have  him  buried  with  rich  men.  And  seven  hundred 
years  before  Jesus  was  born  into  our  world,  he  had  said  that  it  should  be  so. 
And  when  the  time  for  Christ's  burial  came,  the  clock  of  his  providence 
struck,  just  as  He  had  said  it  should  do.  Joseph  of  Arimathea  was  one 
of  the  wheels  in  this  clock;  and  when  the  right  time  came,  there  he  was — 
ready  to  bury  the  dead  Saviour  in  his  own  new  tomb.     And  thus,  in  the 


8i8  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

wonderful  working  of  God's  providence,  it  came  to  pass  that  Jesus  was — 
"with  the  rich  in  his  death."  And  as  we  think  of  ourselves,  as  standine 
by  the  tomb  in  which  Jesus  was  buried,  and  seeing  how  strangely  the 
prophecy  about  his  burial  was  fulfilled,  we  cannot  help  wondering  at  the 
working  of  God's  providence.     It  is  true  indeed,  as  the  hymn  says — that 

"God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 
His  wonders  to  perform: 
He  plants  his  footsteps  in  the  sea, 
And  rides  upon  the  storm." 

And  it  is  just  the  same  now,  that  it  was  then.  Here  are  some  exam- 
ples of  the  working  of  this  providence.. 

The  Raven  of  JVinslade  Quarry. — Winslade  is  a  small  town  in 
England,  famous  for  its  stone  quarries.  Some  years  ago  an  incident  oc- 
curred there  which  strikingly  illustrates  this  part  of  our  subject.  The 
men  were  at  work  in  the  lower  part  of  the  quarry.  Directly  above  was  a 
great  mass  of  overhanging  rocks.  Dinner-time  came;  but  just  as  they 
were  getting  ready  for  it,  a  raven  flew  down,  picked  up  the  little  parcel 
which  contained  one  of  the  miners'  dinner,  and  flew  away  with  it.  The 
man  of  course  did  not  want  to  lose  his  dinner,  so  he  ran  after  the  bird, 
thinking  that  she  would  soon  have  to  stop,  and  lay  down  her  heavy  bur- 
den, and  then  he  would  get  his  dinner  again. 

His  companions  wished  to  see  the  fun,  and  they  joined  in  the  chase. 
The  bird  was  stronger  than  they  thought,  and  led  them  a  long  way  off", 
before  she  alighted.  But,  at  last,  she  flew  down  the  side  of  a  steep  and 
dangerous  precipice,  and  laid  her  bundle  on  a  projecting  rock.  She 
seemed  to  feel  that  she  was  safe  there,  and  so  she  was,  for  no  one  was 
willing  to  risk  his  life  by  attempting  to  go  down  that  perilous  place.  Then 
the  men  gave  up  the  chase,  and  went  back  to  the  quarry.  On  reaching  the 
spot,  they  found,  to  their  surprise  that  a  great  mass  of  rock,  had  fallen  down, 
just  where  they  would  have  been  eating  their  dinner.  It  would  have 
crushed  them  to  death,  if  the  raven  had  not  come  and  taken  them  away 
in  time  to  save  them.  Thus  God  made  use  of  that  bird  to  save  the  lives 
of  those  men.     Here  we  see  the  wonderful  working  of  God's  providence. 

Delivered  by  a  Dog. — A  minister  of  the  gospel,  who  had  a  country  pa- 


THE   BURIAL.  819 


rish  in  New  England,  tells  this  story.  "  A  farmer  belonging  to  my  parish, 
and  who  was  quite  well  off,  died  suddenly.  Shortly  after  his  death  his 
widow,  who  was  a  good  Christian  woman,  concluded  to  give  up  the  farm, 
and  take  a  small  house  in  the  neighboring  village.  The  farm  was  sold, 
and  then  an  auction  was  held  to  sell  the  things  on  the  farm  and  in  the 
house,  except  the  furniture  that  would  be  needed  for  the  little  house  in 
the  village.  "  I  went  to  see  her,"  said  the  minister  on  the  day  of  the  sale. 
"I  told  her  I  thought  she  had  done  wisely  in  concluding  to  give  up  the 
farm,  for  it  was  half  a  mile  away  from  any  other  house,  and  she  would  be 
lonely,  and  unprotected  there." 

"Oh!  no,"  she  said,  "not  unprotected;  far  from  it!  You  forget  that 
I  am  now  under  the  special  charge  of  that  God  '  who  careth  for  the  widow 
and  the  fatherless,'  and  who,  I  am  sure,  will  protect  us." 

"And  now,  let  me  tell  you  how  God  did  protect  them.  There  was  a 
good  deal  of  money  in  the  house  that  night,  from  the  sale  which  had  taken 
place.  The  only  persons  in  the  house  were  the  mother,  with  her  three 
young  children,  and  their  maid  servant." 

Some  time  after  going  to  bed  she  heard  a  strange,  and  unusual 
noise,  at  the  back  of  the  house.  Then  she  was  startled  by  the  barking  of 
a  dog,  apparently  in  the  room  under  her  chamber.  This  alarmed  her  still 
more,  as  they  had  no  dog  of  their  own 

She  arose  and  dressed  herself  hastily.  She  awoke  her  maid,  and  they 
went  down  stairs.  They  first  looked  into  the  room  where  they  heard  the 
dog.  There  they  saw  a  huge  black  dog,  scratching,  and  barking  furiously 
at  the  door  leading  into  the  kitchen.  She  told  her  servant  to  open  the 
door  where  the  dog  was  scratching.  The  girl  was  brave,  and  opened  the 
door  without  a  fear.  In  a  moment  the  dog  rushed  out,  and  through  the 
open  door,  the  widow  saw  two  men,  at  the  kitchen  window,  which  was 
also  open.  The  men  instantly  turned  to  run,  and  the  dog  leaped  through 
the  window,  and  ran  after  them.  There  was  a  fierce  fight  between  them, 
but  the  men  finally  got  away,  though  followed  far  off  by  the  faithful  dog. 

Mrs.  M.,  and  her  maid  fastened  the  window,  and  doors,  and  conclu- 
ded to  sit  up  for  the  rest  of  the  night,  for,  of  course  it  would  be  impossible 
to  sleep  after  what  had  taken  place.  They  had  hardly  taken  their  seats 
before  they  heard  their  noble  protector  scratching  at  the  outer  door  for 


820  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

admittance.  They  gladly  let  him  in,  and  when  he  came  up  to  them,  wag- 
ging" his  great  bushy  tail,  they  patted,  and  praised  him  for  his  goodness 
and  courage.  Then  he  stretched  his  huge  form  beside  the  warm  sto\e, 
closed  his  eyes,  and  went  to  sleep.  The  next  morning  they  ga\e  him  a 
breakfast  that  any  dog  might  have  been  glad  to  get.  As  soon  as  he  had 
finished  his  breakfast,  he  went  to  the  door,  and  stood  impatiently  whining 
till  the  door  was  opened,  when  off  he  ran  in  a  great  hurry,  and  they  never 
saw  him  again. 

They  had  never  seen  the  dog  before,  and  knew  not  to  \\hom  it  be- 
longed. But  the  grateful  widow  felt  sure  that  her  Father  in  heaven  had 
sent  him  for  their  protection  that  night.  And  her  faith  was  stronger  than 
ever  that  God  would  fulfill  his  word — and  she  wondered  more  than  ever 
at  the  mysterious  working  of  his  providence. 

"Say  not,  my  soul,  From  wlience 

Can  God  relieve  my  care  ? 
Remember  that  omnipotence 

Hath  servants  everywhere  ." 

TJie  last  lesson  taught  us  by   the  burial  of  Christ  is — a  lesson  of 

COMFORT. 

If  Christ  had  not  suffered,  and  died,  and  been  buried  for  us,  w^e  should 
have  no  comfort  when  we  come  to  die.  The  thought  of  having  to  lie 
down  in  the  grave  would  have  been  terrible  to  us.  But  Jesus  died,  and 
laid  in  the  grave  for  us,  on  purpose  that  we  might  not  be  afraid  to  die. 

It  is  true  as  the  hymn  says,  that — 

"  The  graves  of  all  his  saints  he  blest 
When  in  the  grave  he  lay." 

David  had  learned  this  lesson,  by  faith  in  the  promised  Saviour,  long 
before  he  came  to  earth,  and  it  was  this  that  enabled  him  to  say,  "  Yea, 
though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no 
evil,  for  thou  art  with  me ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me."  Ps.  23 ;  4. 

And  the  apostle  Paul  had  learned  the  same  lesson,  when  he  exclaim- 
ed so  joyfully,  "O  death,  where  is  thy  sting?  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victo- 
ry? Thanks  be  to  God  who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  i  Cor.  xv:  55,  57. 


822  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

Good  Dr.  Muhlenberg  put  this  lesson  very  sweetly  into  a  single 
verse  of  his  beautiful  hymn,  when  he  said  ; — 

"  I  would  not  live  ahvay;  no;  welcome  the  tomb, 
Since  Jesus  hath  lain  there  I  dread  not  its  gloom. 
There  sweet  be  my  rest,  till  he  bid  me  arise, 
To  hail  him  in  triumph  descending  the  skies." 

•  The  sweet  Scottish  poet  Bonar  had  learned  this  lesson  well,  and  was 
feeling  the  comfort  which  the  thought  of  Christ's  burial  gives,  when  he 
could  think  of  dying,  and  lying  in  the  grave,  and  speak  about  it  in  these 
words : — 

"  I  go  to  life  and  not  to  death; 

From  darkness  to  life's  native  sky ; 
I  go  from  sickness  and  from  pain 
To  health  and  immortality. 

Let  our  farewell,  then,  be  tearless, 

Since  I  bid  farewell  to  tears ; 
Write  this  day  of  my  departure 

Festive  in  your  coming  years. 

I  go  from  poverty  to  wealth, 

From  rags  to  raiment  angel-fair, 
From  the  pale  leanness  of  this  flesh 

To  beauty  such  as  saints  shall  wear. 

I  go  from  chains  to  liberty, 

These  fetters  will  be  broken  soon ; 
Forth  over  Eden's  fragrant  fields 

I'll  walk  beneath  a  glorious  noon. 

For  toil  there  comes  the  crowned  rest ; 

Instead  of  burdens,  eagles'  wings; 
And  I,  even  I,  this  life-long  thirst 

Shall  quench  at  everlasting  springs." 

We  see  the  true  effect  of  Christ's  burial,  in  the  feeling  of  comfort 
which  those  who  believe  in  him  experience  when  they  come  to  die.  Here 
are  some  examples  of  what  I  mean. 


THE   BURIAL.  823 


When  Dr.  Watts  was  on  his  death-bed,  he  said,  "  I  bless  God  that  I 
can  lie  down  at  night,  without  the  slightest  fear  whether  I  wake  in  this 
world  or  another." 

Another  good  minister,  when  asked  how  he  felt  at  the  approach  of 
death,  said, — "  I  am  just  going  into  eternity;  but  I  bless  God,  I  am  neither 
ashamed  to  live,  nor  afraid  to  die." 

During  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  of  England,  many  good  men  were 
cruelly  put  to  death,  for  the  sake  of  their  religion.  Among  these  was  Dr. 
Fisher,  Bishop  of  Rochester.  When  he  came  in  sight  of  the  scaffold,  on 
which  he  was  to  die,  he  took  out  of  his  pocket  a  Greek  Testament,  and 
looking  up  to  heaven,  said,  "  Now,  O  Lord,  direct  me  to  some  passage 
which  may  comfort  me  in  this  trying  hour."  Then  he  opened  the  book, 
and  his  eye  rested  on  this  passage,  "This  is  life  eternal,  to  know  thee,  the 
only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent."  He  closed  the 
book  and  said,  "  Praised  be  God !  this  is  all  I  need.  This  is  enough  for 
life,  or  for  death ;  for  time,  or  for  eternity." 

When  the  Rev.  James  Harvey  came  to  his  last  sickness,  his  physician 
came  in  one  day  and  told  him  he  had  but  very  little  time  to  live. 

"  Then  let  me  spend  my  last  moments,"  said  he,  "  in  praising  my 
blessed  Saviour.  Though  my  heart  and  my  flesh  fail,  yet  God  is  the 
strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  forever.  St.  Paul  says,  '  All  things 
are  yours,  whether  life  or  death ;  things  present,  or  things  to  come;  all  are 
yours,  and  ye  are  Christ's,  and  Christ  is  God's.'  Here  is  the  treasure  of  a 
Christian,  and  a  noble  treasure  it  is.  Death  is  ours.  Jesus  has  made  it 
our  friend,  by  his  death  and  burial.  Praise  God  for  this  truth.  And  now 
welcome  death !  How  well  thou  mayest  be  welcomed  among  the  trea- 
sures of  the  Christian.     '  For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  but  to  die  is  gain.'  " 

The  Rev.  William  Janeway  was  another  excellent  and  faithful  minis- 
ter of  Christ.  In  his  closing  sickness,  these  were  among  the  last  words 
that  he  spoke.  "  I  bless  God  I  can  die  in  peace.  I  know  what  that  means, 
'The  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding  shall  keep  your 
hearts.'  It  is  keeping  mine  now.  My  joy  is  greater  than  I  can  express. 
Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name. 
Now  I  can  die.  It  is  nothing.  I  long  to  die.  I  desire  to  depart,  and  be 
with  Christ."     And  so  he  died. 


824 


THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


These  good  men  had  studied  well  the  subject  of  Christ's  burial,  and 
had  learned  the  lesson  of  comfort  it  was  intended  to  teach  us.  And  when 
we  think  of  the  burial  of  Christ,  let  us  remember  the  lessons  of  which  we 
have  now  spoken  in  connection  with  it.  These  are  the  lessons  about  the 
certain fy  of  his  death : — the  fitlfillnieiit  of  his  luont ; — the  working  of  his 
providence  ; — and  the  comfort  we  derive  from  his  burial. 

The  collect  for  Easter-even,  is  a  very  appropriate  one  with  which 
to  close  this  subject : — "  Grant,  O  Lord,  that  as  we  are  baptized  into  the 
death  of  thy  blessed  Son,  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  so  by  continual  mor- 
tifying our  corrupt  affections,  we  may  be  buried  with  him ;  and  that 
through  the  grave  and  gate  of  death,  we  may  pass  to  our  joyful  resurrec- 
tion, for  his  merits,  who  died,  and  was  buried,  and  rose  again  for  us,  thy 
Son,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen." 


>1 


f  OR  OUR 


-STRlPtS  ^^ 


THE    RESURRECTION. 


rising  of  our  blessed  Lord  from  the  dead,  was 
one  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  his- 
tory of  his  life  on  earth. 

Let  us  take  an  illustration  of  its  importance. 
Suppose  that  we  were  living  in  England,  and 
that  we  were  well  acquainted  with  Victoria — 
the    good    and    gracious 
queen  of  that  great  king- 
dom.    And  suppose  that 
it  should  please  the  queen 
to  make  us  a  present  of 
one  of  the  fine  old  castles 
of  England,  with  all   the 
lands    and   property  be- 
longing to  it.     In  giving 
us   this  castle,  or,  as  the 
lawyers  say,  in  "  conveying  it  to  us,"  the  queen 

would  order  a  title-deed  to  be  made  out.     This  deed  would  be  necessary; 

because  if  any  one  else  should  claim  that  the  castle  belonged  to  him. 


Victoria  Retrina. 


825 


826 


THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST 


we  could  then  open  the  deed,  and  show  that  the  queen  had  really 
given  it  to  us.  A  title  deed,  like  this  of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  is 
generally  written  on  a  sheet  of  parchment.  In  this  deed  would  be  found 
the  name  of  the  castle,  with  a  full  description  of  it,  and  all  the  property 
belonging  to  it.  It  would  be  stated  here  how  many  acres  of  land  were 
connected  with  it ;  and  then  it  would  be  written  down  that  the  queen  had 
given  it  to  us,  and  that  it  was  to  belong  to  us,  and  to  our  children,  or 
heirs  forever.  But  after  all  this  had  been  written  out,  the  deed  would  be 
good  for  nothing  unless  something  more  were  done  to  it.     It  would  be 


An  Enylish  Castle. 


necessary  for  the  queen  to  sign  her  own  name  to  the  deed — Victoria  Re- 
gina — and  then  put  the  royal  seal  upon  it.  The  property  described  in  it 
could  never  become  ours,  unless  the  queen's  signature  and  seal  were  ad- 
ded to  it. 

When  Jesus  came  down  from  heaven  to  earth,  his  great  object  was  to 
secure  for  his  people  a  home  in  heaven, — a  mansion  in  the  skies.  When 
he  hung  upon  the  cross,  we  may  well  say  that  he  was  writing  out  the  title 
deed  to  those  mansions,  in  his  own  blood.  But,  after  this  deed  had  thus 
been  written,  it  was  necessary  for  his  Father  in  heaven  to  show  that  he 
approved  of  what  had  been  done.     When  Jesus  died,  and  was  buried,  we 


THE    RESURRECTION.  827 


may  say  that  he  took  with  him  the  title  deed  to  our  heavenly  home,  to 
get  his  Father  to  sign  it,  and  seal  it.  And  when  the  resurrection  of  Jesus 
took  place  it  showed  that  this  was  done.  Then  God  the  Father  did,  as  it 
were,  say — "  I  approve  of  what  my  beloved  son  has  done.  I  sign  and 
seal  the  title  deed  which  he  has  written  out  to  secure  a  home  in  heaven 
for  all  who  love  and  serve  him." 

This  shows  us  how  very  important  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  was. 
And  because  it  is  so  important,  we  may  well  feel  a  great  interest  in  study- 
ing the  subject  of  Christ's  resurrection.  And  in  doing  this  there  are  two 
things  for  us  carefully  to  consider.  These  are — The  proof  of  flie  resiir- 
/ection  of  CJinst ;  and  the  lessons  ive  are  taitght  by  it. 

Let  us  begin  by  considering — the  proof  of  the  resitrrection  of  Christ. 
We  have  great  cause  for  thankfulness  that  the  proof  given  us  on  this  sub- 
ject is  so  clear  and  strong.  There  is  no  fact  of  history  supported  by 
stronger  proof  than  is  the  fact  of  Christ's  resurrection.  We  believe  that 
there  was  such  a  person  as  Napoleon  Bonaparte ;  that  he  was  emperor 
of  France ;  and  that  he  died  a  prisoner  on  the  island  of  St.  Helena.  We 
believe  that  there  was  such  a  person  as  George  Washington  ;  that  he  was 
the  leader  of  our  armies  during  the  revolutionary  war;  and  that,  after  the 
war,  he  was  the  first  president  of  the  United  States.  We  believe  that 
there  was  such  a  person  as  Julius  Cassar;  that  he  was  a  successful  general 
of  the  Roman  armies ;  and  that  he  met  his  death  in  the  Senate  chamber, 
from  the  daggers  of  the  Roman  senators.  No  one  doubts  these  facts. 
They  are  matters  of  history.  And  yet  the  proof  we  have  of  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Christ,  is  clearer  and  stronger,  than  the  proof  we  have  for  what  we 
believe  respecting  Julius  Caesar,  or  George  Washington,  or  Napoleon  Bo- 
naparte. Nothing  that  we  read  of  in  history  is  more  sure  than  this,  that 
Jesus  did  rise  from  the  dead. 

Many  years  ago,  there  was  an  infidel  club  in  England.  It  was  com- 
posed of  learned  and  distinguished  men.  At  the  meetings  of  the  club, 
its  members  were  in  the  habit  of  ridiculing  the  Bible,  and  of  trying  to 
show  it  was  not  worthy  of  being  believed.  On  one  occasion  a  member 
of  this  club  was  appointed  to  examine  the  subject  of  the  resurrection  of 
Christ,  and  to  write  an  essay  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that  there  was 
no  satisfactory  proof  that  he  ever  rose  from  the  dead. 


828 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


He  examined  carefully  what  is  said  on  this  subject  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament. And  the  end  of  it  was,  that  he  became  fully  convinced  of  the 
fact  that  Christ  did  rise  from  the  dead.  And,  instead  of  writing  an  article 
for  that  infidel  club  to  show  that  what  Christians  believe  about  the  resur- 
rection of  Christ  is  not  true,  he  wrote  one  of  the  best  books  that  ever  has 
been  written,  to  prove,  beyond  all  doubt,  that  the  resurrection  of  Christ  is 


We  believe  that  Napoleon  died  a  prisoner  in  the  Island  of  St.  Helena. 


true.  He  became  an  earnest  Christian.  And  that  which  led  to  this  great 
change  was  the  convincing  proof  he  found  in  the  New  Testament  of  the 
truth  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ.  He  saw  it  was  true  that  Jesus  did 
rise  from  the  dead.  And  when  he  became  satisfied  that  this  was  true,  he 
was  obliged  to  adrhit  that  all  the  other  teachings  of  the  New  Testament 
respecting  Christ,  must  be  true  also.  The  resurrection  of  Christ  is  the 
foundation  stone  on  which  the  religion  of  the  Bible  is  built  up.     If  that 


THE    RESURRECTION. 


829 


falls,  this  must  fall.  But  if  that  stands  firm  and  sure,  then  this  must  stand 
firm  and  sure  also. 

And  in  examining  the  proof  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ  the  most 
important  thing  to  notice  is — the  iinuibcr  and  cJiaracfey  of  the  witnesses. 

The  first  person  who  saw  our  blessed  Lord,  after  he  rose  from   the 


/jf 


m 


m 


A 


We  believe  that  Julius  Casar  lived.' 


dead,  was  Mary  Magdalene.  We  read  about  this  in  St.  Mark  xi :  9.  St. 
John  XX :  11-18.  After  this  he  appeared  to  certain  other  women,  who 
were  returning  from  the  sepulchre.  St.  Matthew  xxviii :  9,  10.  Then  he 
appeared  to  Simon  Peter,  alone.  St    Luke  xxiv :  34,    i  Cor.  xv:  5.  His 


830  THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

next  appearance  was  to  two  of  his  disciples,  as  they  were  walking  to- 
gether, from  Jerusalem  to  a  village  called  PImmaus.  He  had  a  long  talk 
with  them,  and  stopped  and  ate  bread  with  them.  St.  Luke  xxiv:  13-32. 
The  fifth  appearance  of  the  risen  Saviour,  was  to  ten  of  his  disciples, 
Thomas  being  the  only  one  of  them  who  was  not  there.  This  was  at  Je- 
rusalem, on  the  evening  of  the  first  glad  Easter  day.  St.  John  xx:  19-32. 
After  this  we  hear  nothing  of  him  for  a  week.  But  on  the  evening  of 
"  the  first  Sunday  after  Easter,"  he  made  his  sixth  appearance.  On  this 
occasion  the  eleven  disciples  were  all  together.  Thomas  was  with  them 
now.  They  were  sitting  in  a  room,  with  the  door  closed,  and  no  doubt 
fastened,  for  fear  of  the  Jews.  Only  one  subject  could  occupy  their 
thoughts — and  that  was  the  resurrection  of  their  wonderful  master.  Sud- 
denly Jesus  himself  stood  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  said,  "  Peace  be  unto 
you."  In  spite  of  all  that  he  had  heard  from  the  other  disciples,  Thomas 
declared  he  could  not  believe  it  possible  that  Jesus  had  risen  from  the 
dead.  When  his  brethren  told  him  that  it  was  true,  he  said,  "  Except  I 
shall  see  in  his  hands  the  print  of  the  nails,  and  put  my  finger  into  the 
print  of  the  nails,  and  thrust  my  hand  into  his  side,  I  will  not  believe." 
But  on  this  occasion  the  loving  and  gracious  Saviour  met  his  doubting 
disciple  in  the  very  way  in  which  he  had  desired  to  be  met.  For  we  read: 
"Then  saith  he  to  Thomas,  reach  hither  thy  finger,  and  behold  my  hands : 
and  reach  hither  thy  hand,  and  thrust  it  into  my  side ;  and  be  not  faith- 
less, but  believing."  St.  John  xx  :  26-29. 

The  seventh  appearance  of  the  risen  Saviour,  was  on  the  shore  of  the 
sea  of  Galilee.  A  number  of  the  apostles  were  together  on  this  occasion. 
It  was  one  of  the  most  touching,  and  impressive  of  all  his  interviews  with 
them.  The  deeply  interesting  account  of  what  took  place  at  this  time,  is 
given  in  full  in  the  21st  chapter  of  St.  John's  gospel;  but  we  cannot  en- 
large on  the  subject  now. 

The  eighth  time  that  Jesus  was  seen,  after  his  resurrection,  was  by 
the  eleven  disciples  again.  We  read  in  St.  Matthew  xxviii:  16 — "Then 
the  eleven  disciples  went  away  into  Galilee,  into  a  mountain  where  Jesus 
had  appointed  them."  This  refers  to  St.  Matthew  xxvi :  32,  when  as  they 
were  partaking  together  of  the  Lord's  Supper  for  the  first  time,  after  re- 
ferring to  his  death  he  said,  "  But  after  that  I  am  risen  again,  I  will  go 


THE    RESURRECTION. 


831 


before  you  into  Galilee."     We  are  not  told  where  this  meeting  was  held, 
or  what  took  place  on  that  occasion. 

The  ninth  appearance  of  the  risen  Lord,  is  that  of  which  St.  Paul 
speaks  in  1  Cor.  xv ;  7,  where  he  tells  us  that  "  he  appeared  to  above  four 
hundred  brethren  at  once."  The  place  here  referred  to  is  not  mentioned, 
and  so  cannot  be  known.     It  was  probably  in  Galilee,     jesus  had  spent 


The  Disciples  at  Enimaus. 

most  of  his  public  life  in  that  part  of  the  country.  He  had  made  most  of 
his  disciples  then.  It  was  proper,  therefore,  that  those  disciples,  who 
would,  of  course,  hear  of  his  death,  should  have  some  public  proof  given 
them  of  the  fact  of  his  resurrection.  No  doubt  the  eleven  disciples  went 
to  Galilee  after  Jesus  rose.  They  would  spread  the  news  that  he  had 
risen,  and  that  he  was  about  to  show  himself  to  his  friends  on  a  certain 
mountain.     Nothing  more  would  be  necessary  anywhere  to  draw  together 


832  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

a  great  concourse  of  people,  than  a  report  that  one  who  was  dead  had 
come  to  Ufe  again,  and  was  about  to  show  himself;  and  in  this  case 
where  they  greatly  loved  him,  and  where,  no  doubt,  many  believed  he 
would  rise,  they  would  naturally  come  together  in  great  numbers,  to  see 
him  once  more. 

The  tenth  appearance  of  Christ  after  his  resurrection,  was  to  the 
apostle  James.  This  is  told  us  by  St.  Paul,  who  says,  i  Cor.  xv :  7. 
"After  that  he  was  seen  of  James."  This  is  not  mentioned  in  any  of  the 
gospels.  But  as  Jesus  was  on  earth  for  forty  days  after  his  resurrection, 
it  is  most  likely  that  he  appeared  often  to  his  disciples,  and  that  only 
enough  of  the  more  prominent  appearances  were  mentioned,  to  prove  the 
fact  that  he  had  risen. 

The  eleventh  occasion  on  which  Jesus  was  seen  after  his  resurrection, 
was  on  the  Mount  of  Olives,  just  before  his  ascension  into  heaven.  On 
this  occasion  all  the  eleven  apostles  were  present,  and  no  doubt  great 
numbers  of  his  other  disciples. 

And  then  there  was  one  other  occasion  on  which  Jesus  appeared, 
making  twelve  in  all.  This  was  after  his  ascension  into  heaven.  To  this 
the  apostle  Paul  refers,  when  he  says,  "  And  last  of  all  he  was  seen  of  me 
also."  I  Cor.  xv :  8.  This  was  when  he  had  that  wonderful  vision  near 
Damascus.  Then  the  great  apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  saw  the  same  Lord 
Jesus,  in  the  same  body  which  had  been  seen  by  others.  Unless  it  were 
so,  this  would  be  no  proof  that  Jesus  was  risen  from  the  dead.  It  was 
not  a  fancy  therefore  that  he  had  seen  him.  It  was  not  revealed  to  him, 
that  Jesus  was  risen.  "  Last  of  all  he  was  seen  of  me."  With  his  bodily 
eyes,  St.  Paul  actually  saw,  in  a  bodily  form,  that  same  Jesus,  who  had 
died  upon  the  cross ;  who  had  been  buried  in  that  rocky  sepulchre ;  who 
had  risen  from  the  dead,  and  had  ascended  into  heaven.  Such  were  the 
witnesses  of  the  resurrection,  as  to  their  number. 

And  now  look  at  the  character  of  these  witnesses.  They  were  sensi- 
ble men.  They  knew  what  they  were  doing.  They  could  not  be  mis- 
taken about  the  fact  of  Christ's  resurrection.  They  had  seen  him  put  to 
death  upon  the  cross.  They  had  seen  him  buried.  On  the  third  day  after 
his  burial  they  had  found  his  tomb  empty.  His  body  was  gone.  Then 
they  saw  him  alive.    They  could  not  be  mistaken  about  his  person.    They 


THE    RESURRECTION. 


833 


knew  him  too  well  for  this.     They  had  seen  the  print  of  the  nails  in  his 
hands.     This   made  the  proof  of  his  resurrection  perfect. 

And  then  they  were  honest  men.     They  had  no  motive  for  preaching 
the  resurrection  of  Christ  but  the  sincere  belief  that  it  was  true.     If  they 
could  have  made  money,  or  gained  honor,  by  preaching  the  resurrection 
that  would  have  been  a  reason  for  their  doing  so  even  if  it  had  not  been 
true.     But  the  very  opposite  of  this  was  the  case.     Preaching  the  resur- 


The  Incredulity  of  St.  Thomas. 

rection  brought  on  them  the  loss  of  all  they  had  in  the  world.  It  caused 
them  to  be  persecuted,  imprisoned,  and  put  to  death.  And  yet  they  went 
on  preaching  that  Christ  had  risen.  And  they  would  have  been  guilty  of 
the  greatest  folly  if  they  had  done  this  without  being  thoroughly  con- 
vinced that  it  was  true.  But  they  were  perfectly  satisfied  of  the  truth  of 
what  they  preached,  and  //«5was  the  reason  why  they  went  on  preaching  it. 
And  then,  if  Christ  had  not  risen  from  the  dead,  it  would  have  been 


834  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

the  easiest  thing  in  the  world,  for  the  enemies  of  his  cause  to  have  denied 
it.  That  would  have  ended  the  matter.  But  they  never  did  this.  And 
the  only  reason  why  they  did  not  do  so,  was  that  they  knew  it  was  true 
that  Christ  had  risen.  They  could  not  deny  the  fact.  And  when  we  put 
these  things  all  together,  we  see  how  perfectly  convincing  is  the  proof  of 
the  resurrection  of  Christ. 

And  now  let  us  look  at  some  of  the  lessons  taught  us  by  our  Lord's 
resurrection. 

The  first  lesson  we  may  learn  from  this  great  fact  is  about — the 

POWER    OF    CHRIST. 

We  know  of  nothing  that  is  harder  to  do,  than  to  bring  the  dead  back 
to  life.  Men  can  do  many  things,  but  this  is  one  thing  which  they  cannot 
do.  All  the  men  in  the  world,  and  all  the  angels  in  heaven  could  never, 
by  their  own  strength,  restore  life  to  the  dead.  When  the  blood  stops 
flowing  through  the  veins,  and  the  heart  stands  still,  there  is  nothing  but 
the  power  of  God  that  can  make  the  heart  begin  to  beat,  and  the  blood 
begin  to  flow  again.  But  Jesus  had  the  power  to  do  this.  He  raised 
Lazarus  to  life  after  he  had  lain  in  the  grave  four  days.  And  he  did  the 
same  to  the  widow's  son,  and  to  the  daughter  of  Jairus.  And  what  he 
did  for  others  in  this  matter,  he  did  for  himself  also.  And  he  did  it  by 
his  own  power.  On  one  occasion,  when  speaking  to  his  disciples  about 
his  death,  or,  as  he  called  it,  laying  down  his  life,  he  said,  "  I  lay  it  down 
of  myself;  /  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have  power  to  take  it  again.'' 
And  he  did  this  on  the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  He  exercised  his 
own  power  to  give  new  life  to  his  dead  body.  Here  we  have  a  grand 
lesson  about  the  power  of  Christ.  And  it  is  very  comforting  to  know 
how  great  the  power  of  Jesus  is,  because  we  so  often  need  to  have  him 
exercise  that  power  to  help  us  when  we  are  in  trouble.  And  he  is  exer- 
cising his  power  in  this  way  continually. 

Let  us  look  at  some  of  the  ways  in  which  he  does  this. 

The  Power  of  Christ  to  Save. — A  young  man,  the  son  of  a  pious 
mother,  was  wandering  away  from  the  paths  in  which  he  had  been  trained 
to  walk.  He  had  given  up  going  to  church,  and  in  the  summer  time 
generally  spent  his  Sundays  in  sailing  on  the  river  in  a  boat,  with  his  gay 
companions.     One  Sunday  the  boat  upset.     He  could  not  swim,  and  he 


An  Early  Christian  Martyr 


83s 


THE    RESURRECTION. 


went  down  in  the  deep  water.  As  he  rose  to  the  surface  for  the  last  time, 
he  was  seized,  and  his  cold,  and  apparently  lifeless  body  was  brought  to 
the  shore.  He  was  carried  home.  Everything  possible  was  done  for  his 
recovery,  but  for  a  long  time  it  seemed  uncertain  whether  he  would  come 
back  to  life.  There  was  a  feeble  flutter  about  the  wrist,  just  enough  to 
keep  hope  alive. 

His  mother  knelt  by  his  bedside,  and  prayed  in  her  agony  that  he 
might  be  spared  at  least  till  he  could  seek  and  find  pardon.  As  she  thus 
prayed,  the  cold  hand  held  in  hers,  gave  a  feeble  pressure.  The  eyelids 
quivered  a  little,  but  did  not  open.  After  a  while  he  looked  at  his  mo- 
ther, and  said,  in  a  low  whisper,  "  Mother  I  am  saved."  Supposing  that 
he  meant  saved  from  drowning,  she  replied,  "Yes,  dear,  thank  God  you 
are  saved."  And  then  in  broken  sentences,  with  long  intervals  between 
them,  he  gave  this  remarkable  experience  : — 

"  Mother,  I  heard  you  praying :  if  I  had  died  you  would  have  thought 
me  lost :  but  I  am  saved.  When  I  let  go  my  hold  upon  the  boat,  the 
thought  flashed  across  my  mind — I  am  lost  I  am  going  into  eternity  with 
all  my  sins  unpardoned.  I  lifted  up  my  heart  to  heaven,  and  said,  '  God 
be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.  Lord  save  me !'  I  seemed  to  hear  a  voice 
distinctly  saying,  '  I  will  save  thee,  trust  me.'  I  am  sure  it  was  the  voice 
of  Jesus.  All  my  fear  was  gone.  But  after  that  I  knew  nothing  until  I 
heard  you  praying  for  me.  You  would  have  mourned  for  me  as  lost;  but 
mother  I  am  saved." 

And  the  result  proved  that  he  was  right.  As  soon  as  he  recovered 
his  health  and  strength,  he  gave  up  all  his  wicked  ways,  and  lived  the 
life  of  an  earnest  and  devoted  Christian.  How  wonderful  is  the  power  of 
Jesus  to  save ! 

The  Power  of  yestts  to  Provide. — A  Christian  widow  was  dying. 
She  was  very  poor,  and  had  four  young  children  to  leave  helpless,  and 
alone  in  the  world.  As  she  took  leave  of  her  little  ones,  Nettie,  the 
oldest  girl,  about  fourteen  years  of  age  said,  amidst  heart-breaking  sobs 
and  tears,  "  O,  mother  dear,  what  shall  we  do  when  you  are  gone  ?" 

"  Nettie,  darling,"  said  the  mother,  "  God's  hand  will  help  you.  It  is 
an  omnipotent  hand.     Never  let  go  of  it." 

The  mother  died,  and  was  buried.     Towards  evening  of  the  next  day, 


838  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST 

little  Dick,  the  youngest  of  the  children,  came  to  Nettie  and  said,  "Nettie 
Dick's  awful  hungry.  Isn't  there  a  bit  of  a  crust  anywhere?"  "  Pooi 
Dick,"  said  Nettie,  "what  shall  we  do?"  And  then,  remembering  what 
her  dying  mother  had  said  about  the  Omnipotent  hand,  she  dropped  on 
her  knees,  and  said,  "  O  God,  our  God,  and  our  mother's  God,  look  on 
these  hungry  little  ones,  left  in  my  care,  and  send  them  some  food  for 
Christ's  sake.     Amen." 

A  rich  merchant  of  the  town  was  going  home  that  evening.  He  was 
a  widower,  but  had  no  children.  Without  knowing  why,  he  took  a 
different  way  home  from  the  one  ordinarily  taken.  As  he  walked 
slowly  along,  he  happened  to  be  just  under  the  open  window  when  Net- 
tie made  that  prayer  for  bread.  The  tone  of  deep  sadness  in  it  touched 
his  heart.  He  stopped.  He  knocked  at  the  door.  Nettie  opened  it,  and 
asked  him  in.  He  found  out  the  sad  condition  of  those  helpless  orphans. 
He  gave  them  money  to  get  what  they  needed.  He  continued  to  visit 
them,  and  finally  became  so  much  interested  in  them,  that  he  took  them 
to  live  with  him  in  his  own  home.  Nettie  felt  the  blessedness  of  holding 
on  to  the  Omnipotent  hand.     Here  we  see  the  power  of  Jesus  to  provide. 

One  other  illustration  shows  us — The  Power  of  Jestts  to  protect. 

A  young  Christian  woman,  whose  family  were  very  well  off,  was  con- 
fined to  her  sick  bed  for  many  years.  She  seldom  had  any  one  in  the 
room  with  her  at  night.  On  one  occasion  she  lay  awake  about  midnight. 
The  family  were  all  asleep,  and  the  house  was  very  still,  when  the  door 
of  her  chamber  opened,  and  a  man  walked  softly  in.  He  came  towards 
her  bed,  and  then  stopped  a  moment.  Her  little  night  lamp  was  shining 
on  them  both,  from  the  stand  by  her  bedside.  She  did  not  scream,  or 
cry.  The  robber  looked  at  this  lovely  girl,  as  she  gazed  on  him  with 
perfect  calmness.  Lifting  her  finger,  and  pointing  solemnly  towards 
heaven,  she  said,  "  Do  you  know  that  God  sees  you  ? "  The  man  waited 
a  moment,  but  made  no  reply.  Then  he  turned,  and  walked  quietly 
away.  He  had  opened  no  other  doors  than  the  street  door  and  the  door 
of  her  chamber.  The  omnipotent  hand  was  there,  too.  What  a  blessed 
thing  it  is  to  hold  on  to  that  hand  I  Here  we  see  the  power  of  Jesus  to 
protect.  The  power  he  had  to  raise  himself  from  the  dead,  he  has  still, 
to  use  for  the  help  and  comfort  of  his  people. 


THE    RESURRECTION. 


S39 


\ 


The  second  lesson  to  be  learned  from  the  resurrection,  is  a  lesson  about 

— THE    TENDERNESS    OF    ChrIST. 

We  learn  this  lesson   from  two  little  incidents  connected  with  the 
resurrection. 


Christ  appears  to  Peter. 


You  remember  that  on  the  night  of  our  Saviour's  trial,  though  all 
the  disciples  forsook  him,  yet  Peter  was  the  only  one  of  them  who  denied 
him.     In  the  very  presence  of  Jesus,  he  declared  with   oaths  and  curses, 


840  THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 


that  he  did  not  know  him.  How  painful  this  must  have  been  to  the 
blessed  Saviour!  It  might  ha\'e  been  expected,  that  when  he  met  Peter 
again,  for  the  first  time  after  this,  he  would  have  had  some  sharp  rebuke 
to  give  him.  But  it  was  not  so.  Instead  of  this,  we  find,  that  when  the 
angels  at  the  empty  tomb,  met  the  women  who  had  come  early  to  anoint 
the  body  of  Jesus,  they  told  them  that  he  had  risen  from  the  dead,  and 
then  charged  them  to  go,  and  tell  the  good  news  to  "his  disciples, 
and  Peterr  He  was  the  only  one  of  all  the  disciples  who  was  mentioned 
by  name  in  this  message  of  the  angels.  "Tell  his  disciples,  and  Peter !" 
How  strange  this  was !  The  angels  did  not  do  it  of  their  own  accord. 
No  doubt  Jesus  had  told  them  to  say  this.  And  why  did  he  do  so?  What 
led  him  to  do  it?  It  was  the  tenderness  of  his  loving  heart.  He  knew 
how  badly  Peter  had  been  feeling  about  his  shameful  denial  of  him.  He 
knew  what  bitter  tears  he  had  been  shedding  over  his  sin.  And  he 
wished  to  let  him  know,  that,  notwithstanding  what  he  had  done,  his  in- 
jured Master  had  no  unkind  feeling  in  his  heart  towards  him.  And  so  he 
told  the  angels  to  say  to  the  women  that  they  should — ■"  go  tell  his  dis- 
ciples, and  Petey^'  that  their  Lord  was  risen.  Here  we  see  the  tenderness 
of  Jesus. 

And  then  there  was  another  incident  connected  with  the  resurrection 
of  Jesus,  which  shows  his  tenderness  still  more  touchingly.  He  arranged 
matters  so  that  Peter  might  have  a  private  interview  with  him,  early  in 
the  day  on  which  he  rose  from  the  dead.  St.  Luke  tells  us,  Chap,  xxiv: 
34,  that  Jesus  "  appeared  unto  Simon."  And  St.  Paul  says  that — "  he  was 
seen  of  Cephas."  i  Cor.  xv :  5.  This  was  a  meeting  that  Peter  had  with 
the  Master  whom  he  had  denied,  all  by  himself.  We  are  not  told  what 
took  place  at  this  meeting.  Peter  never  said  a  word  about  it;  and  it  was 
too  sacred  for  any  one  else  to  intrude  upon.  But  we  can  very  well  im- 
agine what  was  said  and  done.  We  can  imagine  how  the  poor  penitent 
disciple  would  sob,  as  if  his  heart  were  breaking,  when  he  saw  his  injured 
Master.  We  can  fancy  we  see  him  throwing  himself  at  the  feet  of  Jesus, 
and  bathing  them  with  bitter,  burning  tears,  as  he  begged  to  be  forgiven. 
And  then  we  can  think  of  the  kind,  and  gentle  words  that  Jesus  would 
speak  to  him.  How  tenderly  he  would  assure  him  of  his  free  forgiveness! 
How  he  would  tell  him  that  he  loved  him  still !  and  how  willing  he  was 


THE    RESURRECTION.  e4t 

to  put  him  back  in  his  old  place  as  a  disciple,  and  let  him  go,  and  preach 
salvation  for  lost  sinners  through  his  death  and  resurrection  !  How  kind 
it  was  in  Jesus  thus  to  give  Peter  an  opportunity  of  making  up  with  him, 
when  they  were  all  alone  by  themselves ! 

Let  us  never  forget  the  tenderness  of  Jesus,  as  shown  by  these  two 
incidents.  And  let  us  try,  like  him,  to  be  loving,  and  gentle,  and  kind  to 
all.  See  how  much  good  may  be  done  by  those  who  imitate  the  example 
of  Christ  in  this  respect. 

The  Power  of  Kindness. — An  English  merchant  had  taken  passage 
on- board  a  Turkish  vessel,  on  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  During  the  voyage 
his  attention  was  called  to  an  interesting  man  on  the  vessel,  who  was  a 
slave  belonging  to  the  captain.  He  had  frequent  conversations  with  him, 
and  found  him  to  be  a  kind-hearted,  active,  and  intelligent  person.  In  the 
course  of  their  conversations  together,  he  learned  that  the  man  had  been 
born  free,  but  had  been  taken  captive  in  war,  and  was  now  a  slave  for  life. 

The  merchant  felt  a  great  sympathy  for  the  poor  captive,  and  had  a 
desire  to  get  him  released.  He  inquired  what  it  would  cost  to  purchase 
his  freedom.  The  sum  named  was  more  than  the  whole  profit  of  his 
voyage.  Still  he  could  not  give  up  the  thought.  He  offered  the  captain 
a  price  for  his  slave.  The  offer  was  accepted.  The  slave  overheard  this 
conversation.  He  supposed  the  merchant  was  going  to  purchase  him, 
that  he  might  keep  him  as  his  own  slave.  This  made  him  very  angry. 
He  sprang  forward  and  said,  with  great  excitement,  "  You  call  )-ourself  a 
lover  of  freedom,  an  enemy  to  slavery,  wherever  found,  and  yet  you  are 
purchasing  me !" 

The  merchant  turned  and  looked  kindly  on  him,  as  he  calmly  said, 
'' My  friend.  I  have  bought  yon  to  set  yon  at  liberty.  Now  yon  are  a  free 
many 

In  a  moment  the  storm  of  passion  was  stilled.  The  slave  burst  into 
tears;  and  falling  at  the  feet  of  his  deliverer,  he  exclaimed,  "  Yon-  have 
taken  my  heart  captive  /    /  am  yonr  servant  forever  I " 

Few  of  us  may  have  the  opportunity  of  showing  kindness  as  this 
merchant  did.  But  every  boy  and  girl  in  the  land  may  follow  the  ex- 
ample of  the  noble  lad  whose  kindness  to  the  aged  is  told  in  these 
simple  lines : 


842  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


SOMEBODY'S  MOTHER. 

The  woman  was  old,  and  ragged,  and  gray, 
And  bent  \\ith  the  chill   of  the  winter's  day ; 
The  street  was  wet  with  recent  snow, 
And  the  woman's  feet  were  aged  and  slow. 
She  stood  at  the  crossing,  and  waited  long, 
Alone,  uncared  for,  amid  the  throng 
Of  human  beings  who  passed  her  by, 
None  heeded  the  glance  of  her  an.xious  ej-c. 

Down  the  street,  with  laughter  and  shout, 
Glad  in  the  freedom  of  "  school  let  out," 
Came  the  boys,  like  a  flock  of  sheep, 
Hailing  the  snow  piled  white  and  deep. 
Past  the  woman  so  old  and    gray. 
Hastened  the  children  on  their  way, 
Nor  offered  a  helping  hand  to  her 
So  meek,  so  timid,  afraid  to  stir 

Lest  the  carriage-wheels,  or  the  horses'  feet 
Should  crowd  her  down  in  the  slippery  street. 
At  last  came  one  of  the  merry  troop, 
The  gayest  laddie  of  the  group; 
He  paused  beside  her  and  whispered  low 
"Fll  help  3'ou  across  if  you  wish  to  go." 
Her  aged  hand  on  his  strong  young  arm 
She  placed,  and  so,  without  hurt,  or  harm. 

He  guided  the  trembling  feet  along, 
Glad  that  his  own  were  firm  and  strong. 
Then  back  again  to  his  friends  he  went. 
His  j'oung  heart  happy  and  well  content. 
"  She's  somebody's  mother,  you  know, 
Altho'  she  is  aged,  and  poor,  and  slow ; 
And  I  hope  some  fellow  will  lend  a  hand 
To  help  my  mother,  j-ou   understand, 

If  ever  she's  poor,  and  old,  and  gray, 

When  her  own  dear  boy  is  far  away." 

And  "  somebody's  mother "  bowed  low  her  head 

In  her  home  that  night,  and  the  praj-cr  she  said 

Was,  "  God  be  kind  to  that  noble  boy. 

Who  is  somebody's  son,  and  pride,  and  joy!" 


THE    RESURRECTION.  843 

Let  us  never  forget  the  lesson  of  tenderness  which  Jesus  taught  on 
the  morning  of  his  resurrection. 

The  only  otJicy  kssoii,  in  cojinecfion  with  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  of 
which  we  would  now  speak  is  about — the  way  of  showing  our  love  to 

HIM. 

This  lesson  was  taught  on  the  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  Some  of 
the  disciples  of  Jesus  had  gone  back  to  their  old  trade  of  fishing.  On  one 
occasion  they  had  been  out  all  night,  but  had  caught  nothing.  The  next 
morning,  Jesus  stood  on  the  shore  of  the  lake,  but  they  did  not  know  him. 
He  asked  them  if  they  had  anything  to  eat.  They  said  no.  He  told 
them  to  cast  the  net  on  the  right  side  of  the  ship,  and  they  would  find 
plenty  of  fish.  They  did  so,  and  their  nets  were  filled  at  once.  Then 
John,  the  loving  disciple,  was  the  first  to  find  out  who  it  was.  He  said  to 
Peter,  "  It  is  the  Lord."  As  soon  as  Peter  heard  this,  he  fastened  his  fish- 
ing coat  about  him,  plunged  into  the  sea,  and  swam  to  the  shore.  The 
other  disciples  rowed  to  land  in  their  boat.  As  soon  as  they  landed,  they 
found  a  fire  of  coals,  with  fish  and  bread  all  ready  for  eating.  Jesus  in- 
vited them  to  come  and  dine  with  him.  They  did  so,  and  when  the  din- 
ner was  over,  he  had  a  long  conversation  with  them.  As  they  were  talk- 
ing together,  he  said  to  Peter,  "Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?" 
He  saith  unto  him,  "Yea,  Lord;  Thou  knovvest  that  I  love  thee."  He 
saith  unto  him,  "  Feed  my  lambs."  This  question  was  repeated  by  Jesus 
the  second  and  the  third  time.  Peter  gave  the  same  answer  each  time. 
The  reply  of  Jesus  was — "  Feed  my  sheep."  The  lambs  of  Christ's  flock, 
mean  the  children,  or  young  members  of  his  church.  The  sheep  of  Christ 
mean  the  older  members  of  his  church.  By  feeding  his  lambs  and  his 
sheep,  Jesus  meant  teaching  his  people,  both  young  and  old,  about  him- 
self, and  what  he  has  done  for  their  salvation.  And  by  what  Jesus  said, 
on  this  occasion,  he  meant  to  teach  Peter,  and  you,  and  me,  and  all  his 
people,  that  if  we  really  love  him,  the  way  in  which  he  wishes  us  to  show 
that  love,  is  by  being  kind  to  others — by  teaching  them  about  him,  and  by 
trying  to  get  them  to  love,  and  serve  him,  too. 

This  is  a  good  lesson  for  ministers  to  learn  ;  for  parents,  for  teachers, 
and  for  all  who  love  Jesus.  When  we  have  found  what  a  faithful  friend, 
what  a  loving  Saviour,  what  a  kind  and  tender  comforter  we  have  in  him, 


844  ^'^^   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

then  he  wishes  us  to  do  all  we  can  to  help  others  to  know  him,  and  love 
him,  and  serve  him.     This  is  what  we  should  all  be  trying  to  do. 

Let  us  look  at  some  of  the  ways  in  which  we  may  do  this. 

The  Unexpected  Fyiend. — The  Rev.  Mr,  Moffatt, — the  missionary  to 
Southern  Africa,  tells  an  interesting  story  which  illustrates  very  strikingly 
this  part  of  our  subject.  "  In  one  of  my  early  journeys  in  this  land,"  he 
says,  "  I  came,  with  my  companions,  to  a  heathen  village,  on  the  banks  of 
a  river.  We  had  travelled  far,  and  were  hungry,  and  thirsty,  and 
very  weary.  The  people  of  the  village  would  not  let  us  come  near 
them.  We  asked  for  water,  and  they  would  not  give  us  any.  We  offered 
to  buy  milk,  but  they  refused  to  sell  us  any.  We  had  no  prospect  but 
that  of  spending  the  night  without  anything  to  eat,  or  to  drink.  But  at 
the  close  of  the  day  a  woman  came  to  us  from  the  village.  She  bore  on 
her  head  a  bundle  of  wood,  and  had  a  vessel  of  milk  in  her  hand.  With- 
out saying  a  word,  she  handed  us  the  milk.  She  laid  down  the  wood, 
and  returned  to  the  village.  Presently  she  came  again  with  a  cooking 
vessel  on  her  head,  with  a  leg  of  mutton  in  one  hand,  and  a  vessel  of 
water  in  the  other.  Silently  she  kindled  the  fire,  and  put  on  the  meat. 
Again  and  again  we  asked  her  who  she  was,  and  why  she  was  doing  all 
this  for  us  strangers.  At  last  she  said,  that  years  before,  there  had  been  a 
missionary  in  her  neighborhood.  He  had  gone  away  a  long  while  ago ; 
but  from  him  she  had  learned  to  know  the  Saviour.  '  I  love  him,'  she 
said,  '  whose  servants  you  are,  and  I  wish  to  show  my  love  to  him  by  do- 
ing what  I  can  to  help  you.'  "  I  asked  her,"  said  Mr.  Moffatt,  "how  she, 
alone  in  that  dark  land,  without  a  minister,  without  a  church,  and  without 
any  Christian  friends,  had  kept  up  the  light  of  God  in  her  heart  ?  "  She 
drew  from  her  bosom  a  soiled,  and  worn  copy  of  the  New  Testament, 
which  the  missionary  had  given  her."  "  This,"  she  said,  "  is  the  fountain 
from  which  I  drink;  this  is  the  oil  that  makes  my  lamp  burn." 

How  a  Boy  SJiowed  his  Love  for  CJtrist — Some  time  ago  a  dreadful 
accident  took  place  on  the  river  Thames,  in  England.  A  steamer,  called 
-  the  Princess  Alice,  when  crowded  with  passengers,  on  an  excursion,  was 
run  into  by  another  vessel,  and  sunk.  Fearful  screams  filled  the  air  as 
that  great  crowd  of  people  were  plunged  into  the  water.  Among  those 
who  were  drawn  to  the  spot,  was  a  good   Christian  boy,  about  sixteen 


THE    RESURRECTION.  845 

years  of  age,  who  worked  in  the  neighborhood.  Being  a  good  swimmer, 
he  at  once  plunged  into  the  water,  took  hold  of  the  first  struggler  he  met 
with,  and  bore  him  away  in  safety  to  the  shore.  He  did  the  same 
the  second  time,  and  then  the  third.  As  he  was  nearing  the  shore 
the  third  time  he  saw  a  small  bundle  floating  on  the  water,  which  he 
thought  must  be  a  baby.  He  caught  it  with  his  teeth,  and  thus  was  the 
means  of  saving  four  lives  on  that  terrible  occasion.  By  the  time  he  had 
done  this,  his  strength  was  exhausted,  and  he  was  unable  to  venture  again 
among  the  drowning  ones.  But  he  carried  the  baby  home  to  his  mother's 
humble  dwelling,  and  placing  the  little  orphan  in  her  arms,  he  said,  "  Here, 
mother,  suppose  you  nurse  this  baby  for  oitr  blessed  Saviour _;  and  I  will 
work  for  its  support  as  long  as  I  live!' 

A  noble  boy  that  was !  and  a  beautiful  illustration  he  gave  of  the 
way  in  which  we  should  show  our  love  to  Jesus,  by  feeding,  and  taking 
care  of  his  lambs,  and  doing  good  to  his  people. 

I  never  saw  the  lesson  now  before  us,  better  expressed  than  in  the 

following  simple  lines: 

SHINING  FOR  JESUS. 

Are  you  shining  for  Jesus  children?     You  have  given  your  hearts  to  Him; 

But  is  the  light  strong  within  them,  or  is  it  but  pale  and  dim  ? 

Can  evoybody  see  it — that  Jesus  is  all  for  you  ? 

That  your  love  to  Him  is  burning  with  radiance  warm  and  true? 

Is  the  seal  upon  your  forehead,  so  that  it  must  be  known 

That  you  are  "all  for  Jesus,"  that  your  hearts  are  all   His  own? 

Are  you  shining  for  Jesus  children,  so  that  the  holy  light 

May  enter  the  hearts  of  others,  and  make  them  glad  and  bright  ? 

Have  you  spoken  a  word  for  Jesus,  and  told  to  some  around — 

Who  do  not  care  about  Him, — what  a  Saviour  you  have  found  ? 

Have  you  lifted  the  lamp  for  others,  that  has  guided  your  own  glad  feet? 

Have  you  echoed  the  loving  message,  that  seemed  to  you  so  sweet? 

Are  you  shining  for  Jesus,  children,  shining  just  everywhere? 
Not  only  in  easy  places,  not  only  just  here  or  there? 
Shining  in  happy  gatherings,  where  all  are  loved  and  known  ? 
Shining  where  all  are  strangers, — shining  when  quite  alone  ? 
Shining  at  home,  and  making  true  sunshine  all  around  ? 
Shining  at  school,  and  faithful — perhaps  among  faithless — found? 

Oh !  rise,  and  "  watching  daily,"  ask  Him  your  lamps  to  trim. 
With  the  fresh  oil  which  He  giveth,  that  they  may  not  burn  dim. 


846 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


Yes,  rise  and  shine  for  Jesus  !     Be  brave,  and  bright,  and  true, 
To  the  true  and  loving  Saviour,  who  gave  Himself  for  j-ou. 
Oh  !  shine  for  Jesus  children !  and  henceforth  be  your  way, 
Bright  with  the  light  that  shineth  unto  the  perfect  day! 


Shining  for  Others. 


THE   ASCENSION. 


E  come  now  to  the  last  event  in  the  history  of 
our  Saviour's  life  on  earth.  His  work  is  done. 
His  teachings  are  finished.  His  sufferings  are 
ended.  Nothing  remains  for  him  to  do,  but  to 
return  to  heaven,  from  whence  he  came,  and 
take  his  seat  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  And 
this  is  the  subject  we  are  now  to  consider — The 
Asceiisio7i  of  Christ. 

And  in  considering  it,  the  first  thing  for  us 
to  notice  is — the  time  of  the  Ascension. 

And  in  all  the  New  Testament,  there  is 
only  one  place,  in  which  anything  is  said  about 
the  time  of  the  Ascension.  Indeed  it  is  sur- 
prising that  so  little  is  said  about  it  altogether. 
Two  of  the  gospels,  that  of  St.  Matthew  and 
St.  John,  have  not  a  word  to  say  on  the  subject. 
And  the  other  two  do  not  say  much.  All  that 
St.  Mark  says  about  it  is  in  a  single  verse.  We 
read  thus,  in  Chap,  xvi :  19: — "So,  then,  after 
that  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  them,  he  was 
received  up  into  heaven,  and  sat  on  the  right 

hand  of  God."     There  are  two  verses   in  St. 

847 


848  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

Luke,  in  which  the  ascension  is  spoken  of.  In  Ch.  xxiv :  50,  51,  we  find 
the  ascension  thus  described  :  "  And  he  led  them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany; 
and  he  Hfted  up  his  hands  and  blessed  them.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
while  he  blessed  them,  he  was  parted  from  them,  and  carried  up  into 
heaven." 

The  most  particular  account  of  the  ascension  that  we  have  in  the 
New  Testament,  is  given  in  the  "Acts  of  the  Apostles."  In  the  first 
chapter  of  this  book  we  are  told  that  the  ascension  took  place  "  forty 
days  after  the  resurrection."  We  are  told  of  the  "  many  infallible  proofs  " 
that  he  had  risen,  and  how  he  spoke  to  them  "  of  the  things  pertaining  to 
the  kingdom  of  heaven."  And  he  "  commanded  them  not  to  depart  from 
Jerusalem,"  until  they  should  "be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost,"  which 
was  to  take  place  "  not  many  days  "  after  his  ascension.  "Ye  shall  receive 
power,"  said  he,  "after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you."  Then  he 
told  them  how  "  they  should  be  witnesses  for  him,  both  in  Jerusalem  and 
in  all  Judea,  and  unto  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth."  "  And  when  he 
had  spoken  these  things,  while  they  beheld,  he  was  taken  up ;  and  a  cloud 
received  him  out  of  their  sight." 

And  then  we  read  about  the  two  angels  who  appeared  to  the  disciples 
and  told  them  that,  "  this  same  Jesus,  which  was  taken  up  from  you  into 
heaven,  shall  so  come,  in  like  manner,  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into 
heaven." 

In  the  third  verse  of  this  chapter  we  have  the  only  information  which 
the  whole  Bible  gives  us  about  the  iiiiie  of  the  ascension.  Here  we  learn 
that  this  great  event  took  place  on  ^}aQ.  fortieth  day  after  his  resurrection. 
We  are  not  told  why  the  ascension  was  delayed  so  long,  after  Jesus  had 
risen  from  the  dead.  But,  no  doubt,  there  were  good  reasons  for  it.  And 
it  may  be  that  we  shall  know  all  about  these  reasons  hereafter,  though  we 
do  not  know  them  now. 

If  we  begin  and  count  forty  days  from  Easter  Sunday,  the  fortieth 
day  will  always  come  on  the  Thursday  in  the  fifth  week  after  Easter.  And 
this  day  is  always  kept  in  the  Church  of  England,  in  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  in  this  country,  and  in  some  other  churches,  in  memory 
of  the  important  event  we  are  now  considering.  It  is  called  Ascension 
Day,  or  Holy  Thursday;  and  the  portions  of  Scripture  read  on  that  day 


THE   ASCENSION. 


849 


all  have  reference  to  the  Ascension  of  our  blessed  Lord.  And  this  is  all 
that  need  be  said  about  the  time  of  the  Ascension. 

The  place,  where  the  Ascension  occurred,  is  the  next  thing  to 
notice. 

From  what  we  read  in  the  gospel  of  St.  Luke,  we  might  suppose  it 
was  from  Bethany  that  Jesus  made  his  ascension.  Here  it  says,  "  He  led 
them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany,  and  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and  blessed  them. 


Bethany  and  probable  site  of  the  Ascension. 


And  it  came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  he  was  parted  from  them,  and 
carried  up  into  heaven."  St.  Luke  xxiv:  50,  51.  But  in  the  first  chapter 
of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  after  describing  his  ascension,  we  read  that 
the  disciples  "returned  unto  Jerusalem  from  the  Mount  called  Olivet.'' 
Acts  i:  12.  But  there  is  no  contradiction  here;  for  Bethany,  the  home  of 
Lazarus  and  his  sisters,  was  on  the  Mount  of  Olives.  It  was  situated  just 
below  the  top  of  the  Mount,  on  the  other  side  from  Jerusalem.  And  so 
we  know  that  it  was  either  from  the  village  of  Bethany,  or  from  some  spot 


850 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


between  that,  and  the  summit  of  the  Mount,  that  Jesus  made  his  ascen- 
sion. When  he  was  here  on  earth  he  often  went  to  the  Mount  of  OHves. 
It  was  from  this  mountain  that  "Jesus  beheld  the  city  and  wept  over  it," 
when  he  used  that  beautiful  illustration,  "  how  often  would  I  have  gath- 
ered thy  children  together,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under 
her  wings,  and  ye  would  not!"     It  was  on  this  mountain  that  he  sat  with 


EVEW  AS    A  Hem    CATHERETH    her   CHJClCEhE  URSm  HEg  WtNCS 


■^    ^yj. 


his  disciples,  when  he  gave  that  wonderful  prophecy  about  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem,  and  his  coming  again  into  our  world,  of  which  we  read  in 
the  24th  chapter  of  St.  Matthew. 

The  Mount  of  Olives  was  the  last  spot  of  this  earth,  on  which  the 
feet  of  the  blessed  Saviour  stood,  before  he  went  up  to  heaven.  And 
when  he  comes  again  into  our  world  he  will  return  to  the  place  from 
which  he  ascended.     This  we  are  told  by  the  prophet  Zechariah.     For  it 


THE    ASCENSION.  851 


is  when  he  is  speaking  of  the  return  of  Jesus  from  heaven  that  he  says — 
"  And  his  feet  shall  stand  at  that  day  on  the  Mount  of  Olives."  Chapter 
xiv:  4.  This  thought  very  naturally  makes  Olivet  an  interesting  place  to 
visit. 

I  remember,  when  at  Jerusalem,  a  very  pleasant  visit  we  made  to  this 
sacred  Mount.  It  was  at  the  close  of  a  Sunday  afternoon.  The  sun 
went  down  as  we  stood  there.  And  there  was  something  very  sweet  and 
solemn,  in  the  thought  that  Jesus,  our  glorious  Lord,  had  once  stood 
on  that  Mount,  near  where  we  then  were.  It  was  from  there  that  his 
disciples  saw  him  go  into  heaven.  And  when  he  comes  back  from 
heaven,  his  feet  will  stand  again  upon  the  Mount  of  Olives.  And  so, 
when  we  think  of  our  Saviour  going  back  to  heaven,  we  may  always  re- 
member that  some  spot  on,  or  near  the  top  of  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
was  the  place  of  the  ascension. 

The  Manner  of  the  Ascension — is 
the  third  thing  of  which  to  speak. 

It  was  a  visible  ascension.  There 
are  only  two  other  persons  spoken  of  in 
the  Bible,  as  having  gone  up  from  earth 
to  heaven,  in  a  bodily  form.  One  of 
them  was  "  Enoch,  the  seventh  from 
Adam."     His  ascension  was  not  visible.     „^      ^       u^tt^  ut-.,       a 

Bethany  from  the  N.  E.,  near  the  Jericho  road. 

No  one  saw  him  go.     It  took  place  in 

secret.  We  are  told  in  one  place  that  "  he  was  not,  for  God  took  him." 
In  another  place  it  is  said,  "  he  was  translated."  This  is  all  we  know 
about  the  translation  of  Enoch. 

The  other  case  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  is  that  of  the  prophet  Elijah. 
His  ascension  was  visible,  indeed,  but  it  was  only  seen  by  one  person, 
and  that  was  the  prophet  Elisha.  But  it  was  different  with  the  ascension 
of  Christ.  This  did  not  take  place  in  secret,  but  in  public.  It  was  not 
only  visible,  but  was  witnessed  by  a  crowd  of  people.  All  the  eleven  dis- 
ciples were  there  to  see  it.  And  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  great  many 
others,  besides  the  apostles,  were  there  too.  And  they  all  saw  him,  as  he 
rose  from  the  midst  of  them,  and  went  up  to  heaven.  It  was  a  visible 
ascension. 


852  THE  LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

It  was  a  calm  and  tranquil  ascension.  It  was  not  done  in  a  hurry. 
Solomon  tells  us,  when  speaking  of  God's  doings,  that  his  "judgments 
are  not  executed  speedily."  This  means  they  are  not  done  in  haste. 
God  never  works  in  a  hurry.  After  he  gave  to  Adam  the  first  promise,  of 
a  future  deliverer  from  the  effects  of  sin,  he  waited  more  than  four  thou- 
sand years  before  he  sent  him  into  the  world.  And,  after  Christ  had  risen 
from  the  dead,  he  was  not  in  haste  to  leave  the  world,  and  go  back  to 
heaven.  We  might  have  expected  that  he  would  just  have  shown  himself 
once  or  twice,  to  his  disciples,  so  as  to  make  them  sure  of  his  resurrection, 
and  would  have  left  immediately  for  heaven.  But  it  was  not  so.  Instead 
of  this  he  remained  here  for  forty  days.  He  did  not  spend  all  this  time 
in  the  company  of  his  disciples.  He  only  showed  himself  to  them  from 
time  to  time,  and  talked  with  them  "of  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom 
of  God."  And  when  at  last  these  days  were  over,  and  the  time  came  for 
him  to  go,  still  there  was  no  haste  about  it.  He  did  not  go  up  with  a 
rush,  as  a  rocket  goes  up.  That  would  not  have  been  like  him.  But,  as 
he  stood  on  the  Mount  of  Olives,  talking  to  his  disciples,  who  were  stand- 
ing round  him,  he  began  to  rise  slowly  and  silently  towards  heaven.  And 
as  he  began,  so  he  went  on.  Slowly  and  silently  he  continued  to  rise. 
Upwards  he  went,  higher — and  higher, — till  at  last  a  cloud  received  him 
out  of  their  sight.  That  cloud  became,  as  it  were,  the  chariot  in  which  he 
was  carried  up  in  triumph  to  heaven.  It  was  a  calm  and  tranquil  ascen- 
sion. 

It  was  a  blessed  ascension.  You  know  how  it  is  at  the  close  of  a  ser- 
vice in  church.  The  minister  lifts  up  his  hands  to  bless  the  people,  or  as 
we  say,  to  pronounce  the  benediction.  And  this  was  what  Jesus  was 
doing  at  the  very  moment  of  his  ascension.  He  knew  that  the  time 
had  come  for  him  to  go.  He  knew  that  he  was  about  to  be  separated 
from  his  disciples,  and  that  they  would  see  him  no  more  in  this  world. 
So  he  lifted  up  his  hands  to  bless  them ;  and,  while  he  was  in  the  act  of 
speaking  those  words  of  blessing,  the  ascension  took  place.  As  his 
hands  were  stretched  out  to  bless  his  disciples,  he  rose  calmly  in  the  midst 
of  them,  and  went  back  to  heaven,  from  whence  he  came. 

It  was  said  of  him  before  he  came  into  our  world,  that — "  men 
should  be  blessed  in  him:"  Ps.  Ixxii :   17.     He  was  the  promised  seed  of 


THE   ASCENSION.  85: 


Abraham,  in  whom  it  was  declared  that  "  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 
should  be  blessed."  Gen.  xxii :  18.  The  blessing  of  the  world  was 
wrapped  up  in  Jesus.  When  he  came  into  the  world,  he  came  to  bless  it. 
And  when  he  began  his  public  ministry  in  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  the 
first  thing  of  which  he  had  to  speak  was  the  blessings  he  came  to  bring. 
We  read,  "  And  when  he  was  set,  his  disciples  came  to  him,  and  he  open- 
ed his  mouth  and  taught  them,  saying.  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit,  &c. 
Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  &c.  Blessed  are  the  meek,  &c.  Blessed  are 
the  merciful,  &c.  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  &c."  He  began  his  work 
in  blessing;  he  continued  it  in  blessing;  and  he  ended  it  in  blessing.  But 
the  work  of  blessing  in  which  he  had  been  engaged  here,  did  not  cease 
when  he  ascended  into  heaven.  He  has  been  carrying  on  the  work  of 
blessing  men  ever  since  he  ascended.  He  went  to  heaven  to  procure  for 
his  people  the  best  of  all  possible  blessings.  He  told  his  disciples  that  it 
was  necessary  for  him  to  leave  them,  and  go  to  heaven ;  because  if  he  did 
not  go  the  Holy  Ghost  would  not  come  to  them;  but  that  when  he  went  to 
heaven  he  would  send  the  Spirit  to  be  their  helper  and  comforter.  It  is  the 
Holy  Spirit  who  helps  us  to  understand  the  Scriptures,  and  who  teaches 
us  how  to  love  and  serve  God.  And  whatever  helps  us  to  do  this  is  the 
best  thing — the  greatest  blessing  for  us.  And  when  we  know  that  Jesus 
went  to  heaven  to  obtain  for  us  the  help  of  God's  grace  and  Spirit,  we 
may  well  say  that  the  ascension  of  Christ  was  a  blessed  ascension. 

The  only  other  thing  we  have  to  say  about  the  ascension  of  Christ  is. 
that  it  was  a  wonderful  2iSce.ns\on.  There  were  two  wonderful  things  con- 
nected with  it.  It  was  wonderful  to  think  where  he  went.  He  did  not 
go  simply  to  join  the  company  of  the  angels,  who  have  always  lived  in 
heaven,  and  of  the  good  people  who  went  there  when  they  died.  No ; 
but  he  went  where  no  one  else  had  ever  gone  before,  and  where  no  one 
else  could  go.  When  he  arrived  in  heaven,  he  rose  above  all  the  com- 
pany that  was  there,  and  took  his  seat  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of 
God.  This  was  wonderful,  indeed.  When  Jesus  was  on  earth,  he  was  so 
poor  that  he  "  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head."  He  was  despised  and  per- 
secuted ;  "  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief"  He  was  put  to 
death  as  a  criminal,  by  being  crucified  between  two  thieves.  But  when  he 
ascended  into  heaven  it  was  to  take  his  place  "  far  above  all  principalities 


854 


THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


and  powers."  And  so  his  ascension  was 
wonderful  when  we  think  —  where  he 
went. 

And  it  was  wonderful,  too,  when  we 
think  hoiv  he  went  there.  If  he  had  left 
his  human  body  behind  him,  and  had  as- 
cended to  heaven  simply  in  his  divine 
nature,  as  God,  it  would  not  have  been 
so  wonderful.  But  he  did  not  do  this. 
He  took  his  human  body  with  him.  The 
body  that  was  nailed  to  the  cross,  and 
laid  in  the  grave,  he  took  with  him  to 
heaven.  He  ascended,  indeed,  as  the 
Son  of  God.  But  that  was  not  all.  No, 
for  he  ascended  as  the  Son  of  man,  too. 
It  was  Jesus  Christ  who  ascended  into 
heaven.  But  it  was  our  human  nature, 
as  well  as  the  divine  nature  which  helped 
to  make  up  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ. 
And  so,  when  he  ascended  into  heaven, 
and  sat  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
throne  of  God,  he  took  our  human  nature 
with  him.  He  took  a  body  like  yours 
and  mine,  up  to  that  high  and  glorious 
place.  And  he  is  sitting  there  now,  on 
the  throne  of  God,  as  our  brother.  This 
is  the  most  surprising  thing  connected 
with  the  great  event  we  are  now  consid- 
ering. This  shows  us  how  wonderful  the 
ascension  of  Christ  was. 

And    so,   in    studying    this    subject. 


o 

I.- 

o 


c 
K 


03 


these  are  the  things  about  it  that  we  have 


noticed,  viz. :  the  time  of  the  ascension — forty  days  after  the  resurrection ; 
X\^& place  of  the  ascension— the  Mount  of  Olives;  the  mamier  of  the  as- 
cension— visib/e — calm  and  tranquil^blessed—aiid  wonderful. 


THE   ASCENSION.  855 


There  are  several  lessons  that  may  be  learned  from  the  ascension  of 
our  Saviour,  but  we  can  only  speak  of  one.  This  is  the  lesson  of  obedience 
to  the  command  of  Christ. 

Just  before  he  went  up  to  heaven,  Jesus  said  to  his  disciples — "  Go 
ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature."  St.  Mark 
xvi:  15.  This  is  the  last  command  he  gave  to  his  people.  He  kept  it 
till  now  because  he  wished  it  to  be  especially  remembered.  When  we 
lose  a  father,  or  mother,  or  a  friend  whom  we  love  very  much,  we  listen 
attentively  to  the  words  spoken  by  that  friend  as  we  gather  round  the 
dying  bed.  We  may  forget  some  things  spoken  by  him  in  the  days  of  his 
health  and  strength,  but  those  last  words  that  were  spoken,  just  before  he 
died,  we  always  remember.  They  seem  very  sacred  to  us,  and  we  pay 
particular  attention  to  them.  And  no  doubt  this  was  the  reason  why  Jesus 
kept  this  command,  about  the  missionary  work  he  wishes  his  people  to 
engage  in,  till  now.  He  had  finished  his  work  for  them.  He  had  died  for 
them.  He  had  done  all  that  was  necessary  for  them  to  be  saved,  and  to 
be  happy  with  him  forever  in  heaven.  He  knew  how  much  they  ought  to 
love  him  for  all  this.  And  he  knew  that  those  who  really  did  love  him, 
would  wish  to  show  their  love  by  doing  what  he  had  told  them  to  do. 
And  so  he  kept  this — the  most  important  of  all  his  commands — to  the  last. 
He  wished  it  to  be  connected  with  the  thought  of  his  leaving  the  world, 
and  going  back  to  heaven.  And  as  they  gathered  round  him,  to  see 
him,  and  hear  him  for  the  last  time  on  earth,  he  spoke  these  words  : — "  Go, 
ye,  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature."  He 
did  not  speak  them  for  the  apostles,  or  the  early  Christians  only.  No;  but 
he  spoke  them  for  you,  and  for  me,  and  for  all  his  people,  till  the  end  of 
time.  He  intended  his  church  to  be  a  missionary  church.  He  intended 
that  all  the  members  of  that  church  should  feel  an  interest  in  the  mission- 
ary work,  and  that  they  should  do  all  they  can  to  help  it  on.  This  com- 
mand is  very  broad.  It  takes  in  "all  the  world,"  and  "  every  creature." 
We  have  no  right  to  make  the  field  for  this  work  narrower  than  Jesus 
made  it.  And,  until  the  gospel  has  been  preached  in  "  all  the  world,"  and 
until  "  every  creature"  has  heard  it,  this  command  of  Christ  is  binding 
upon  all  his  loving  people.  If  we  do  not  have  the  missionary  spirit,  which 
these  words  require  us  to  have,  that  is,  if  we  are  not  trying  all  we  can  to 


856  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

bring  "  every  creature,"  in  "  all  the  world,"  to  be  the  friend  and  servant  of 
Jesus,  and  to  be  saved  by  him,  then,  it  is  clear,  either  that  we  are  not 
loving  Jesus  as  we  ought  to  love  him ;  or  else,  we  are  not  showing  our 
love  for  him  in  the  way  in  which  he  wishes  us  to  show  it.  He  says,  "  If 
ye  love  me,  keep  my  commandments."  And  this  is  his  last  and  most 
solemn  command  for  us  to  remember,  and  keep. 

When  he  says — "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach,"  he  does  not 
mean  that  all  his  people  must  leave  their  homes,  and  go  out  as  ordained 
ministers.  What  he  means  is  that  whether  we  go  out  as  missionaries,  or 
not,  we  must  have  the  missionary  spirit,  and  must  do  all  we  can  to  help 
the  missionaries  in  their  work.  We  must  try  to  get  those  around  us  to 
know,  and  love,  and  serve  Jesus.  And  the  important  question  for  us  all 
to  consider  here  is — how  can  we  do  this  ?  In  answering  this  question,  let 
me  point  owi  four  ways  in  which  this  may  be  done. 

We  can  be  missionaries,  and  help  to  preach  the  gospel,  by  our  example. 

A  little  boy  named  Ernest  had  begun  to  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  to  be  a  Christian.  One  day  he  said  to  his  aunt,  "  Now  I  want  to  grow 
up  a  big  man,  and  then  I  will  be  a  minister,  and  preach  to  lots  of  people 
about  Jesus." 

His  aunt  told  him  that  he  need  not  wait  till  he  was  a  man  before  he 
began  to  preach.  "  Try  now,  every  day  to  learn  your  lessons  well,"  said 
his  aunt ;  "  to  be  kind,  and  gentle  to  all,  and  try  by  God's  help  to  over- 
come your  bad  temper,  and  so,  by  your  example  you  may  be  preaching 
Jesus  every  day." 

The  Children  s  Service. — A  little  girl  went  to  a  Children's  service, 
one  Sunday  afternoon.  On  going  home  she  told  her  mother  about  it. 
"  What  led  you  to  go,  Mary  ?"  asked  her  mother. 

"  I  went,  Mamma,"  she  said,  "  because  I  was  invited  to  come,  by  a  kind 
boy  that  I  met  in  the  street  yesterday.  I  saw  him  stop,  and  stroke  a  don- 
key that  was  frightened  by  a  cruel  boy.  Then  he  kindly  picked  up  my 
ball  that  was  rolling  away,  and  returned  it  to  me.  As  he  did  this  he 
handed  me  a  paper,  about  the  children's  service,  and  invited  me  to  come. 
I  knew  he  was  a  good  boy  because  he  was  so  kind,  and  had  such  a  happy 
face.  He  said  he  was  sure  I  would  like  the  services ;  and  I  did  like  them. 
And  I  mean  to  go  every  time." 


THE    ASCENSION.  857 


That  little  boy  was  being  a  missionary,  and  trying  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel by  his  example. 

A  Yoniig  Hero. — Thirty  years  ago  a  boy  had  given  his  heart  to  the 
Saviour.  He  had  been  confirmed  and  joined  church.  The  next  day  he 
went  to  school.  Some  of  the  wild  boys  of  the  school,  heard  that  he  had 
joined  the  church,  and  they  made  up  their  minds  to  have  some  fun  with 
him,  about  it.  At  recess  time  they  formed  a  ring  about  him,  and  cried 
out : — 

"  Oh  !  here  is  the  good  boy,  Charley  !     He  is  going  to  be  a  Christian  !" 

And  what  did  Charley  do  ?  Did  he  feel  ashamed,  and  try  to  steal 
away  ?  Did  he  get  angry,  and  hit,  or  kick,  or  speak  cross  to  them  ?  No. 
But  he  calmly  looked  the  rude  boys  in  the  face,  and  said,  in  a  manly  way : 
"  Yes,  boys,  I  am  trying  to  be  a  Christian.     And  isn't  that  right  ?  " 

The  boys'  consciences  told  them  he  was  right.  They  felt  ashamed. 
The  ring  was  broken  up  at  once,  and  Charley  had  no  more  trouble. 

He  was  preaching  by  his  example. 

A  Beautiful  Illusfmtion.—Mdiry  Duncan  was  a  little  girl,  only  four 
years  old,  who  was  trying  to  be  a  Christian.  This  incident  shows  us  that 
even  at  that  early  age,  she  was  beginning  to  preach,  and  do  good  by  her 
example. 

One  day  she  was  playing  with  her  little  brother.  In  a  fit  of  anger  he 
struck  her  in  the  face.  But  instead  of  screaming  out,  or  striking  him  back, 
she  quietly  turned  to  him  the  other  cheek ;  and  said,  "  There  Corie,  now 
strike  that !"  The  uplifted  hand  was  dropped.  The  tears  came  into  her 
brother's  eyes.  He  kissed  her,  and  said — "  Forgive  me,  sister,  and  I'll 
never  strike  you  again." 

When  Mary  was  asked  what  led  her  to  do  so,  her  reply  was  that  she 
had  heard  her  papa  read  out  of  the  Bible^  at  prayers  that  morning,  what 
Jesus  had  said  about  it. 

And  so  if  we  try  to  be  like  Jesus,  we  may  be  helping  to  keep  his  last 
command,  and  to  preach  the  gospel — by  our  example. 

Another  way  in  which  we  may  do  this  is — by  our  efforts.  This  means 
by  what  we  say,  and  do,  to  show  that  we  love  him,  and  to  try  to  bring 
others  to  do  so  too.  We  find  many  illustrations  of  the  way  in  which  this 
may  be  done. 


858  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

Preaching  in  the  hayjicld.  A  good,  earnest  minister  of  the  gospel 
was  riding  one  day,  past  a  hayfield.  A  sudden  shower  was  coming  up. 
He  saw  a  farmer,  who  never  went  to  church,  sending  off  in  haste  for  a 
horse  to  draw  his  hay  in,  before  the  rain  came.  The  minister  stopped,  and 
oflfered  his  horse  to  do  the  work.  It  was  decHned  ;  but  the  minister  insist- 
ed, and  pulHng  off  his  coat,  unhitched  his  horse,  and  went  to  work,  help- 
ing the  farmer  to  load  the  hay.  They  got  in  several  loads,  and  when  the 
last  load  was  in  the  barn,  and  the  rain  came  pouring  down,  the  farmer 
drew  out  his  pocket  book,  and  said : — 

"  How  much  do  I  owe  you  sir,  for  your  help  ?" 

"  Oh,  nothing,"  said  he,  "  nothing  at  all." 

But  the  farmer  insisted  on  paying  him  for  his  work. 

"Well,  my  friend,"  said  the  minister,  "  did  you  ever  hear  an  Irishman 
preach  ?" 

"  No,"  said  the  farmer. 

"  Well,  you  come  next  Sunday,  and  hear  me  preach,  and  we'll  call  it 
even." 

The  farmer  agreed  to  do  it,  and  for  the  first  time  in  many  years  was 
present  in  the  house  of  prayer.  He  found  out  that  the  man  who  could 
load  the  hay  could  preach  the  gospel  too.  He  believed  it.  He  obeyed 
it.  That  hour's  work,  helping  him  to  save  his  hay  from  the  rain,  was  the 
means  of  leading  him  to  Jesus,  and  of  saving  his  soul. 

TJie  Lost  Diamond. — An  elegantly  dressed  lady,  as  she  stepped  one 
day  from  her  carriage,  in  the  city  of  Washington,  missed  her  valuable  dia- 
mond ring.  It  had  slipped  from  her  finger,  in  some  way,  as  she  left  the 
carriage,  and  had  fallen  into  the  gutter,  where  it  was  speedily  buried  in  the 
filth  that  flowed  toward  the  sewer.  She  looked  with  dismay  on  that 
muddy  stream,  and  offered  a  policeman  fi\x  dollars,  to  put  his  hand  into 
the  gutter  and  find  the  ring.  He  hesitated  awhile,  but  finally  agreed,  and 
'reached  down  into  the  filth,  and  spent  some  time  in  groping  about  tlie 
gutter.  But  he  failed  to  find  the  lost  jewel.  At  length  he  gave  up  the 
search,  and  told  the  lady  that  it  had  probably  been  washed  along,  and  gone 
down  the  sewer.  She  paid  him  the  five  dollars,  and  he  went  away.  But 
the  lady  stood  there  still,  looking  sadly  down  at  the  place  where  her  lost 
gem  had  disappeared.     She  could  not  bear  to  give  it  up.     She  lingered, 


THE   ASCENSION.  859 


and  hesitated ;  and  finally,  taking  oft"  her  glove,  and  pushing  back  her  silks, 
and  ruftles,  and  laces,  she  bared  her  arm  for  the  work,  put  her  fair  hand 
down  into  the  reeking  filth,  and  after  searching  patiently  in  every  direction, 
she  found  the  precious  jewel,  and  carried  it  away  in  triumph. 

Now  there  are  lost  souls  all  about  us,  souls  for  whom  Christ  died, 
ten  thousand  times  more  precious  than  that  lady's  gem.  They  are  lost  in 
the  mire  of  filth  and  sin.  But  they  may  be  found  and  brought  to  Christ,  by 
such  earnest,  persevering  efforts,  as  she  made  for  that  lost  jewel.  And  if 
we  put  forth  such  loving,  personal  efforts  for  them,  they  may  be  saved. 
And  those  who  make  such  efforts  are  obeying  the  Saviour's  command  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature. 

Ifs  all  I  can  do. — Bessie  King  was  a  bright  child  about  fourteen  years 
old.  She  was  a  serious,  thoughtful  girl,  who  wanted  to  make  herself  use- 
ful. One  summer  afternoon  she  went  into  her  father's  garden  and  gather- 
ed a  bunch  of  flowers.  While  doing  so,  she  wondered  if  she  could  not 
make  some  one  happy  by  the  gift  of  these  flowers.  All  at  once  she 
thought  of  her  young  friend,  Nellie  Vance.  Nellie  was  sick  with  con- 
sumption. She  had  been  confined  to  her  room  for  months,  and  was  not 
expected  to  live  very  long.  Her  mother  was  a  poor  widow,  and  unable 
to  do  much  for  her  sick  child.  But  Nellie  was  trying  to  be  a  Christian, 
and  the  thought  of  the  loving  Saviour  made  her  cheerful  and  happy. 

Bessie  was  very  fond  of  Nellie,  and  loved  to  visit  her  whenever  she 
could.  So  she  gathered  some  of  the  loveliest  flowers  in  the  garden,  and 
hastened  with  them  to  her  friend  Nellie's  humble  home.  As  she  entered 
her  chamber,  she  said — "  Nellie,  dear,  I've  come  to  bring  you  a  bit  of  my 
summer,"  and  she  laid  the  flowers  down  by  Nellie,  who  was  lying  on  a 
couch  near  the  window.  Nellie's  delight  at  seeing  the  flowers  was  an 
abundant  reward  to  Bessie  for  bringing  them.  It  was  touching  to  see 
the  sick  child  as  she  lay  there,  with  the  bright  flowers  around  her.  She 
handled  them  so  tenderly,  one  by  one,  almost  forgetting,  in  the  pleasure 
they  gave  her,  the  weary,  aching  pain,  she  was  always  feeling. 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  came  this  afternoon,  Bessie  dear,"  said  Nellie, 
when  the  flowers  were  arranged.  "  I  have  something  so  happy  to  tell 
you."  Bessie  looked  at  her  with  surprise,  wondering  what  happiness  poor 
suffering   Nellie  could  have  left  to  her. 


86o  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

"I  have  been  thinking  for  a  long  time,"  said  Nellie,  "  how  little  I 
have  done  for  the  Lord  Jesus.  I  have  been  shut  out  from  people  so  long, 
that  I'm  afraid  no  one  knows  I  love  Him;  and  I  can't  bear  to  go  away 
from  earth  without  a  word  out  loud  for  Him.  So  Bessie,  I  am  going  to 
be  confirmed.     That  will  be  standing  up  for  Jesus,  and  it's  all  I  can  do." 

"  But,  Nellie  dear,  how  can  you  be  confirmed  ?  You  hav'n't  been  out 
of  your  room  for  months,  and  church  is  more  than  two  miles  away." 

"  I  can  do  it  for  Jesus,"  she  said  firmly.  "  Mr.  Gray  has  promised  to 
take  me  in  his  carriage,  and  to  carry  me  up  in  the  church." 

Bessie  could  say  no  more.  Her  heart  was  full,  and  she  threw  her 
arms  round  Nellie's  neck,  and  wept. 

"  I  want  you  to  come  with  me,  Bessie  dear,"  said  Nellie.  But  Bessie 
could  not  speak.  So  Nellie  went  on,  and  said  :  "  You  have  your  whole 
life  to  live  for  Him,  so  you  ought  to  begin  right  off.  But  mine  is  so  near- 
ly ended,  that  I  must  come  now,  or  I  never  can  come.  It's  all  I  can  do. 
But  Bessie  I  want  you  to  come  with  me." 

And  they  did  both  come.  Bessie  held  back  at  first,  afraid  of  herself, 
but  Nellie  talked  so  sweetly  to  her,  that  she  had  to  yield.  "  When  Jesus 
called  the  little  child  to  him,  Bessie,"  said  her  friend,  "  don't  you  think 
he  would  have  felt  hurt  if  he  had  held  back,  and  refused  to  come  to 
him  ?  Suppose  he  had  said  he  wasn't  good  enough,  or  old  enough ! 
Jesus  wanted  him,  just  as  he  was.  He  had  plenty  of  grown  up  people. 
He  wanted  a  little  child  then,  and  He  wants  us  now." 

It  was  a  touching  sight  when  the  sick  child  was  carried  up  the  aisle, 
to  join  her  young  companions  at  the  chancel ;  and  when  the  bishop  laid 
his  hands  on  her  head,  and  his  voice  trembled,  there  was  not  a  dry  eye  in 
the  church. 

Not  long  after,  Nellie  was  carried  again  into  the  church.  Yet  this 
time  it  was  not  Nellie  herself,  but  only  the  poor  worn  body  that  had  suffer- 
ed so  long,  and  was  now  at  rest.  Her  sufferings  were  now  over,  and 
her  work  was  done.  Her  spirit  was  with  the  Saviour  she  had  loved,  to 
be  forever  happy  in  his  presence. 

Nellie  was  faithfully  carrying  out  the  last  command  of  Jesus,  when 
she  tried,  so  lovingly,  to  get  her  friend  Bessie  to  stand  with  her  and  con- 
fess him  before  men.  By  our  efforts  to  bring  those  around  us  to  Jesus, 
we  may  help  to  carry  out  that  last  command  of  his. 


THE    ASCENSION.  861 


We  can  do  this  also — by  our  gifts.  There  is  no  better  use  to  make 
of  our  money  than  to  give  it  to  help  in  sending  the  gospel  of  Jesus  to 
those  who  do  not  know  him.  And  the  smallest  sums  are  often  very 
useful,  when  given  for  this  purpose.  Here  is  a  story  of  a  poor  little 
orphan  girl,  who  had  earned  six  cents  by  running  errands,  and  of  the 
great  good  that  was  done  by  her  gift.  Her  name  was  Dixey,  and  we 
may  call  the  story, — 

Dixey  s  Six  Cents. — One  day,  a  pale-faced  little  girl  walked  hurriedly 
into  a  book  store  in  Boston,  and  said  to  the  man  at  the  counter :  "  Please 
sir,  I  want  a  book  that's  got,  'Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me,'  in 
it ;  and  how  much  is  it  sir  ?  and  I'm  in  a  great  hurry." 

The  bookseller  wiped  his  spectacles,  and  looking  down  at  the  poor 
child,  he  took  her  thin  little  hand  in  his,  and  said;  "What  do  you  want 
the  book  for  my  child  ?  and  why  are  you  in  such  a  hurry  ?" 

"Well,  sir,  you  see,  I  went  to  Sunday-school,  last  Sunday,  when 
Mrs.  West,  the  woman  who  takes  care  of  me,  was  away ;  and  the  teacher 
read  about  a  Good  Shepherd,  who  loves  little  children,  and  who  said  these 
words.  And  the  teacher  told  us  about  a  beautiful  place  where  he  takes 
care  of  his  children,  and  makes  them  all  happy,  and  I  want  to  go  there. 

"  I'm  so  tired  of  being  where  there's  nobody  to  care  for  a  girl  like 
me,  only  Mrs.  West  who  says  I'd  better  be  dead  than  alive." 

"  But  why  are  you  in  such  a  hurry,  my  child  ?" 

"  My  cough's  getting  so  bad  now,  sir,  and  I  want  to  know  about  him 
before  I  die ;  it  would  be  so  strange  to  see  him  and  not  know  him. 
Besides,  if  Mrs.  West  knew  I  was  here  she'd  take  away  the  six  cents 
I've  saved  from  running  errands,  to  buy  the  book  with,  so  I'm  in  a  hurry 
to  get  served." 

The  bookseller  wiped  his  spectacles  again,  and  taking  a  book  from 
the  shelf,  he  said,  "  I'll  find  the  words  you  want,  my  child ;  listen  while  I 
read  them."  Then  he  turned  to  St.  Luke  xviii :  16,  and  read  to  her  the 
sweet  words  of  the  loving  Saviour.  After  reading  them  he  told  her 
about  the  Good  Shepherd ;  how  he  came  down  from  heaven  to  seek  and 
save  the  lost  sheep  ;  how  he  suffered  and  died  for  us  that  we  might  live; 
and  about  the  bright  and  beautiful  home  in  heaven,  which  He  has  pre- 
pared for  all  who  love  and  serve  him. 


86^ 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


"  Oh,  how   sweet  that  is  1"  said  the    earnest,   and    almost    breathless 
little  listener,      "  He  says — '  Come.'     I'll  go  to  him.      How  long  do  you 


The  Descent  of  the  Cliff. 

think  it'll  be  sir,  before  I  see  him  ?" 

"  Not  long,  I  think,  said  the  bookseller,  turning  away  his  head  to 


THE    ASCENSION.  863 

hide,  the  tears  that  were  running  down  his  cheeks.  "  Now  you  can  keep 
the  six  cents,  and  come  here  every  day,  and  I  will  read  to  you  some 
more  out  of  this  Book." 

The  little  girl  thanked  him  and  hurried  away.  The  next  day,  and 
the  next,  and  many  days  passed  away,  but  the  poor  child  never  came  to 
hear  about  Jesus  again.  Some  time  after  this  a  rough-looking  woman 
came  into  the  book-store,  and  said  in  a  loud  voice,  "  Dixey's  dead !  She 
died  rambling  about  some  Good  Shepherd,  and  she  said  you  were  to  have 
these  six  cents  for  the  mission-box  at  school.  I  don't  like  to  keep  dead 
people's  money,  so  here  it  is,"  and  throwing  the  six  cents  down  on  the 
counter,  she  hurried  out  of  the  store. 

The  six  cents  were  put  into  the  missionary  box  on  the  next  Sunday, 
and  when  the  story  of  Dixey  was  told  it  touched  so  many  hearts,  and 
led  so  many  to  follow  her  example  with  their  pennies,  that  by  the  end 
of  the  year,  "Dixey's  cents"  as  they  were  called,  had  brought  in  money 
enough  to  send  out  a  missionary  to  China,  to  help  in  finding  out  the 
lost  sheep  and  bringing  them  to  Jesus.  And  if  little  Dixey,  in  her 
feebleness  and  poverty,  could  help  to  carry  out  our  Saviour's  last  com- 
mand, then  we  may  all  do  so. 

But  there  are  other  things  than  money,  that  may  be  given  to  the 
work  of  saving  lost  souls.  We  see  this  illustrated  in  the  following- 
story.     It  may  be  called  : — 

The  Rescue. — "O  my  child,  my  child  !"  cried  an  almost  heart-broken 
mother,  as  she  met  a  party  of  gentlemen,  among  the  hills  of  Scotland. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?"  they  asked. 

"A  few  hours  ago  I  left  the  house,  and  my  baby-boy  in  charge  of 
his  sister.  Being  a  fine  day,  he  was  lying  in  the  cradle,  outside  the 
cottage-door,  prattling  away  in  the  sunshine.  After  awhile,  baby  fell 
asleep,  and  my  little  girl  being  hungry,  went  in-doors  to  get  some 
food.  While  she  was  lingering  there,  I  returned  but  only  in  time  to  see 
an  eagle  bearing  away  my  child  in  his  talons.  O  sirs !  pity  me,  help  me, 
I'ecover  my  darling  child." 

The  mother's  loving  eye  had  watched  the  flight  of  the  eagle ;  and 
with  these  gentlemen  she  went  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  and  looking  over 
the  precipice  they  could  see,  far    down  its  steep  sides,  the  nest  of   the 


864 


THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


eagles,  to  which  the  child  had  been  carried.  The  distress  of  the  mother 
touched  the  heart  of  one  of  the  gentleman  who  was  a  Scotch  nobleman. 
He  resolved,  by  God's  help,  to  try  and  snatch  the  child  from  the  terrible 
death  that  awaited  it. 

Ropes  were  procured,  and  at  his  own  request,  the  nobleman  was 
lowered  down  over  the  rugged  clift".  The  two  eagles  fluttered  round, 
as  if  daring  the  intruder  to  approach  their  nest ;  but  a  brave  heart  was 
beating  beneath  that  Scotch  plaid.  Fearlessly  the  heroic  Scotchman 
approached  the  nest.     He  took  the  child  from  among  the  young  eagles. 


The  Praver  of  the  Svro-Phoenician   Woman. 


He  bound  it  to  his  bosom,  and  gave  the  signal  to  be  pulled  up.  Gen- 
tly, but  steadily,  he  was  raised  in  safety  to  the  top  of  the  cliff;  and  with 
a  glad  heart  he  gave  back  the  recovered  child  to  the  arms  of  its  grateful 
and  rejoicing  mother. 

This  story  illustrates  what  Jesus  has  done  for    us;  but,  at  the  same 


THE    ASCENSION.  865 

time  it  shows  what  we  should  do  for  those,  whose  souls  have  been  carried 
away  by  Satan  the  great  enemy,  and  who  are  in  danger  of  perishing  for- 
ever. If  we  feel  for  them,  as  this  good  nobleman  felt  for  that  lost  child,  it 
will  lead  us  to  give,  not  our  money  only,  but  our  sympathy,  and  every- 
thing in  our  power,  to  bring  them  to  Jesus,  that  they  may  be  saved  through 
him  forever.  And  so  we  see  how  by  our  gifts,  we  may  help  to  carry  out 
the  great  command  which  Jesus  left  for  his  people,  just  before  his  ascen- 
sion into  heaven. 

And  'then,  there  is  one  other  way  in  which  we  may  help  to  do  this, 
and  that  is  by — oitr prayers. 

There  is  a  wonderful  power  in  prayer.  It  is  a  power  which  all  may 
use,  and  which  will  reach  all  around  the  world.  We  see  this  strikingly 
illustrated  in  the  case  of  the  Syro-Phoenician  woman  mentioned  in  St. 
Matthew  xv  :  20-28.  Her  prayers  caused  the  casting  out  of  the  devil  from 
her  daughter.  When  Jesus  was  on  earth  he  said  to  his  disciples — "  All 
things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  prayer,  believing  ye  shall  receive." 
St.  Matthew  xxi :  22.  This  is  God's  promise  to  you  and  to  me,  and  to  all 
his  people.  And  so  when  we  pray  for  ministers  and  missionaries :  when 
we  pray  for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen,  and  for  others,  who  do  not  love 
and  serve  God,  we  are  helping  on  the  good  work,  which  Jesus  left  for  his 
people  to  do  when  he  said — "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature."  It  would  be  easy  enough  to  fill  a  volume  with 
incidents  which  illustrate  the  power  of  prayer.  But  we  have  only  room 
for  a  single  illustration. 

Saved  by  Prayer.  Some  years  ago,  a  boy  left  his  home  in  Indiana 
for  Chicago.  He  was  not  there  long  before  he  fell  into  bad  company,  and 
was  led  astray.  A  friend  of  his  father's,  who  lived  in  the  same  town, 
happening  to  visit  Chicago,  saw  that  boy  on  the  street  one  night  drunk. 

On  returning  home,  he  thought  at  first  that  he  would  not  say  any- 
thing to  the  father  about  what  he  had  seen  ;  but  afterwards  he  felt  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  tell  him.  So  meeting  him  one  day,  in  the  crowded  street 
of  their  little  town,  he  took  him  aside,  and  told  him  what  he  had  seen  in 
Chicaofo.     It  was  a  terrible  blow  to  him. 

On  returning  home  that  night,  before  going  to  bed,  he  told  his  wife, 
what  he  had  heard.     They  were  both  so  much  distressed  that  they  could 


866  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

not  sleep.  They  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  earnest  prayer 
for  their  poor  boy.  Before  morning  the  mother  said,  "  I  don't  know  how 
it  is,  but  God  has  given  me  faith  to  believe  that  our  son  will  be  saved,  and 
not  be  allowed  to  fill  a  drunkard's  grave." 

Not  long  after  this,  that  boy  left  Chicago.  He  could  not  tell  why, 
but  an  unseen  power  seemed  to  lead  him  to  his  mother's  home.  On  enter- 
ing the  house  the  first  thing  he  said  was :  "  Mother  I  have  come  home  to 
ask  you  to  pray  for  me."  She  prayed  with  him,  and  for  him,  and  he  soon 
became  a  sincere  and  earnest  Christian.  Here  we  see  the  power  of  prayer. 
Let  us  all  use  this  power,  and  we  shall  be  helping  on  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  in  all  the  world,  and  to  every  creature. 

And  so,  when  we  think  of  the  Ascension  of  Christ,  let  us  always  re- 
member the  great  work  that  Jesus  commanded  his  people  to  do ;  and  let 
us  try  to  help  on  that  work,  in  the  four  ways  of  which  we  have  spoken, — 
by  our  examples — by  our  efforts —  by  oxxr  gifts — and  by  om  prayers. 

The  Collect  for  Ascension  Day  is  a  very  suitable  one  with  which  to 
close  this  subject : — 

"  Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  Almighty  God,  that  like  as  we  do  believe 
thy  only-begotten  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  have  ascended  into  the 
heavens;  so  we  may  also  in  heart  and  mind  thither  ascend,  and  with  Him 
continually  dwell,  who  livethand  reigneth,  with  thee  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
One  God,  world  without  end.  Amen." 


!fij/9f^/^ 


THE  DAY  OF  PENTECOST. 


^^^^^'ESUS  has  finished  his  work  on  earth,  and  gone  back  to 
heaven.  We  have  now,  in  bringing  this  history  to  a  close, 
to  consider  how  the  work  was  carried  on,  after  he  was 
gone. 

After  the  ascension  of  Christ  there  was  a  pause.  For 
some  days  everything  stood  still,  in  connection  with  the 
great  cause  for  which  Jesus  had  lived  and  died.  This  pause 
continued  until  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Then  the  Holy  Ghost 
was  sent  down  from  heaven.  He  took  up  the  work  where  Jesus  had  left 
it,  and  has  been  engaged  in  carrying  it  on  from  that  day  to  this.  Nothing 
could  be  done  till  he  came.  No  sermons  were  preached.  No  lessons 
were  taught.  No  souls  were  converted  till  the  Holy  Ghost  came.  This 
shows  us  how  important  his  presence  and  help  are,  in  all  the  work  which 
the  church  of  Christ  has  to  do,  for  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  salvation 
of  men.     Take  an  illustration. 

Here   is  a   locomotive,  standing  on  a  railway,  with  a  train  of  cars  at- 
tached to  it.     The  engine  is  new  and  beautiful.     Every  wheel,  and  crank, 

S67 


868  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


and  pin  is  in  its  proper  place.  It  is  complete ;  it  is  perfect.  The  boiler  is 
full  of  water.  The  tender,  attached  to  the  locomotive,  is  full  of  fuel.  The 
passengers  are  all  waiting;  but  yet  the  engine  stands  still.  Nothing 
moves.  What  is  the  matter  ?  Simply  this :  there  is  no  steam  in  the  boil- 
er. And  what  is  wanting  to  make  the  steam  ?  Why  a  fire  in  the  furnace. 
Can  nothing  take  the  place  of  this?  Nothing  in  the  world.  This  is  abso- 
lutely necessary.  Every  thing  depends  on  this.  But  now  see,  the  fire  is 
kindled.  There  is  steam  in  the  boiler.  The  wheels  begin  to  move,  and 
away  goes  the  train. 

When  Jesus  went  to  heaven  the  church  he  left  on  earth  might  well  be 
compared  to  such  an  engine.  He  had  built  it  well.  Its  machinery  was 
all  complete  ;  but  it  stood  still.  The  power  was  wanting  to  put  it  in  mo- 
tion. The  Holy  Spirit  alone  could  give  this  power.  When  he  came  the 
fire  was  kindled :  the  steam  was  generated ;  and  the  train  was  started, 
which  was  to  run  round  the  world,  and  carry  countless  numbers  of 
ransomed  souls  to  heaven. 

And  in  speaking  about  the  coming  of  the  Spirit,  there  are  three 
things  for  us  to  notice  These  are — the  time  of  the  Spirit' s  coming :  the 
manner  of  the  Spirifs  coming;  and  the  purpose  of  the  Spirifs  coming. 

The  time  of  the  Spirifs  coming  is  pointed  out  in  the  name  of  the  day 
when  he  came.  It  was  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  This  word  means  the 
fiftieth :  whether  it  be  a  day,  or  a  number,  or  anything  else  to  which  it  may 
be  applied.  The  Jew^  used  this  word  as  the  name  of  one  of  the  three 
great  feasts  which  they  were  commanded  to  keep  every  year.  This  one  was 
called  "  the  feast  of  Pentecost,"  because  it  was  kept  on  the  fiftieth  day  af- 
ter the  feast  of  the  Passover.  It  was  sometimes  called  also — "  the  feast 
of  Weeks."  This  name  was  given  to  it,  because  the  forty-nine  days, 
which  came  in  between  these  two  feasts,  just  made  up  seven  weeks. 

It  pleased  God  to  connect  with  this  day  of  Pentecost,  the  most  im- 
portant event  that  has  ever  taken  place  in  the  history  of  the  church,  or  of 
the  world,  since  the  ascension  of  Jesus  into  heaven — and  that  was — the 
coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

And  this  great  event  has  always  been  remembered  with  interest  by 
the  Christian  church.  In  the  early  days  of  the  church,  the  day  kept  in 
memory  of  the    coming  of  the   Holy  Ghost,  was  set  apart  as  one  of  the 


THE   DAY    OF  PENTECOST.  869 

solemn  seasons  for  baptizing  persons,  who  wished  to  be  received  into  the 
church.  The  candidates  for  baptism,  on  these  occasions,  were  clothed  in 
white  garments,  to  denote  the  purity  which  should  mark  those  who  receiv- 
ed baptism  properly,  by  truly  repenting  of  their  sins,  and  having  their 
souls  washed  in  the  blood  of  Christ.  And  for  this  reason,  the  Sunday  on 
which  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  thus  celebrated,  was  called  Whit-Sunday, 
or  Whit-Suntide. 

In  the  Episcopal  church  in  this  country,  in  the  church  of  England, 
and  in  some  other  branches  of  the  church  of  Christ,  this  Whit-Suntide 
festival  is  still  kept  with  great  interest.  The  scriptures  read  on  this  day 
refer  to  the  coming  of  the  Spirit,  and  to  the  importance  of  his  work:  and 
the  sermons  preached  at  this  season  generally  have  reference  to  the  same 
subject.  And  when  we  remember  how  the  success  of  the  great  work,  in 
which  the  church  of  Christ  is  engaged,  depends  upon  the  help  which  the 
Holy  Spirit  gives,  we  see  how  important  it  is,  that  we  should  be  constant- 
ly reminded  of  the  necessity  of  having  his  presence  and  power  with  us, 
in  all  our  efforts  to  do  good  to  the  souls  of  men.  And  so,  when  we  think 
of  the  time  of  the  Spirit's  coming,  we  may  bear  in  mind  that  it  was  on  the 
day  of  Pentecost,  or  on  the  fiftieth  day  after  the  death  of  Christ. 

And  now,  we  may  go  on  to  speak  of — ///^  manner  of  the  Spirifs  com- 
ing. 

\\.  wdiS  2Si  expected  Q.ov^\xi<g.  Jesus  had  told  his  disciples  about  the 
coming  of  the  Spirit,  and  had  given  them  a  promise  that  he  should  come. 
He  said  to  them,  on  one  occasion ;  "  It  is  expedient  for  you  that  I  go 
away;  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not  come  to  you  ;  but  if  I 
depart,  I  will  send  him  unto  you."    St.  John  xvi :  7. 

And  then,  just  before  his  ascension  into  heaven,  he  repeated  this  prom- 
ise, commanding  them  "  not  to  depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  to  wait  for  the 
promise  of  the  Father:"  again  he  said,  "  ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  not  many  days  hence ;"  and  again,  "  ye  shall  receive  power  after  that 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you."     Acts  i:  4,  5,  8. 

And,  according  to  these  promises,  we  find  that  the  apostles  were  wait- 
ing for  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  expecting  it  when  the  day  of 
Pentecost  arrived.  They  had  not  been  told  how  long  they  were  to  wait. 
All  that  had  been  said  about  the  time  of  his  coming  was,  that  it  would  be, 


870  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

— "  not  many  days  hence."  After  Jesus  left  them,  and  went  to  heaven, 
they  seem  to  have  met  together  every  day,  engaging  in  prayer  and  praise. 
No  doubt  they  read  the  scriptures  on  these  occasions,  and  talked  together 
about  their  ascended  Lord,  and  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise  he  had  left 
them.  Day  after  day,  they  had  met  for  this  purpose,  waiting  for  the  Holy 
Spirit.  But  one  day  passed  by  after  another  and  the  Spirit  did  not  come. 
Still  they  felt  sure  that  he  would  come.  They  were  waiting  for  his 
coming:  and  when  at  last  he  came,  we  may  well  say  of  it,  that  it  was  an 
expected  coming. 

It  was  a  sudden  coming.  We  know  how  often  it  happens  that  some- 
thing we  have  been  expecting,  for  a  long  time,  comes  suddenly  at  last. 
And  it  was  so  with  the  disciples  on  this  occasion.  They  had  met  once 
more  for  their  daily  worship.  As  they  came  together,  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
tecost, there  was  no  more  sign  of  the  coming  of  the  Spirit  on  that  day, 
than  there  had  been  on  any  of  the  previous  days ;  but  he  came  at  last. 
We  are  not  told  whether  it  was  at  the  beginning,  or  the  middle,  or  the 
close  of  their  meeting,  that  he  came.  The  Holy  Spirit  did  not  send  a 
messenger  before  him,  to  tell  of  his  coming,  as  kings,  and  great  men  in 
the  East,  were  in  the  habit  of  doing.  No  trumpet  was  sounded.  No 
signal  was  given.  But,  all  at  once,  the  promise  of  the  Father  was  fulfilled  ; 
the  expectation  of  the  disciples  was  met— the  Holy  Ghost  came  down 
from  heaven.     But  it  was  a  sudden  coming.     Acts  i:  2. 

In  the  next  place  it  was — a  startling  coming.  The  sound  connected 
with  it,  made  it  such  for  one  thing.  We  read  that  "  there  came  a  sound  as 
of  a  rushing,  mighty  wind."  We  are  not  told  that  there  luas  a  wind  on  this 
occasion;  but  only  that  the  sound  which  attended  the  coming  of  the  Spirit 
was  like  that  of  a  mighty  wind.  The  Spirit  might  have  come  to  the  dis- 
ciples on  this  occasion,  as  "the  still,  small  voice"  of  God  came  to  the 
prophet  Elijah,  on  Mount  Horeb.  But  it  was  not  so.  On  the  contrary, 
he  chose  that  his  cominor  should  be  attended  with  a  loud  noise.  We  read 
that  "it,"  that  is  the  sound,  "filled  all  the  house  where  they  were  sitting." 
We  are  not  told  what  this  sounding  noise  was  for.  It  may  have  been  to 
arouse  the  attention  of  the  disciples,  and  make  them  fully  awake  to  the 
important  event  that  was  then  taking  place.  And  no  doubt,  another  reason 
why  this  rushing  sound  attended  the  Spirit's   coming  was  to  indicate  to 


THE   DAY    OF  PENTECOST. 


It  can  dash  to  pieces  the  noblest  works  of  men. 


872  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

them  what  great  power  would  attend  the  Spirit  in  the  work  he  was  to 
carry  on  in  the  church,  and  in  the  world.  The  wind,  when  it  goes  rushing 
on,  in  the  form  of  a  tempest,  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  agents  that  we 
know  of  It  can  lash  the  ocean  into  foam  and  fury.  It  can  dash  to  pieces 
the  noblest  works  of  men,  whether  on  the  land,  or  on  the  sea.  It  can  tear 
up  the  giant  oak  by  its  roots,  and  lay  it  prostrate  on  the  ground.  And 
the  sound  of  that  "  rushing,  mighty  wind,"  with  which  the  Spirit  came, 
was  intended,  it  may  be,  to  make  the  disciples  feel  how  great  the  power 
he  was  able  to  give  them,  in  the  important  work  they  had  to  do.  "The 
sound,  as  of  a  rushing,  mighty  wind,"  seemed  to  tell  of  this. 

But  again,  we  are  always  startled  by  that  which  is  wmsual.  And 
there  were  several  things  about  this  coming  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which  were 
unusual,  and  so  calculated  to  startle  the  waiting  disciples.  There  was, 
for  instance,  the  ^/r^<://(9// of  this  sound.  It  came  "  do7cii  from  heaven." 
The  winds,  with  whose  sound  we  are  familiar,  never  act  in  this  direction. 
From  whatever  point  of  the  compass  they  come,  they  always  blow  around, 
or  over  the  earth.  A  wind  blowing  "  down  from  heaven"  directly  towards 
the  earth,  as  was  the  case  with  that  sound  which  the  disciples  heard,  was 
something  unusual,  and  so  calculated  to  startle  them. 

Another  unusual  thing  about  this  sound  was,  that  it  was  a  sound  like 
that  of  a  wind,  but  yet  without  any  wind  at  all.  They  heard  that  sound. 
It  reminded  them  of  the  wind.  But  there  was  no  motion  there,  such  as 
the  wind  produces  when  it  blows.  Nothing  stirred  in  that  upper  chamber. 
A  feather  would  not  have  been  moved.  So  far  as  motion  was  concerned 
— all  was  calm,  and  still  there.  And  yet  there  was  that  mighty  sound. 
How  startling  this  must  have  been ! 

And  then,  what  accompanied  this  sound  was  startling,  as  well  as  the 
sound  itself  There  were  those  "  cloven  tongues,  like  as  of  hre."  Little 
long  pieces  of  flame  were  seen  in  the  air  of  that  chamber.  There  were 
about  a  hundred  and  twenty  persons  present  there.  And  a  hundred  and 
twenty  of  these  fiery  tongues  were  seen.  How  strange  it  must  have  been, 
to  look  on  such  a  number  of  these  marvellous  appearances,  and  to  see 
one  of  them  come  down,  and  rest  on  the  head  of  each  person  present! 
But,  the  Holy  Spirit  was  come;  and  these  things  must  have  made  it  a 
startling  coming. 


THE    DAY    OF   PENTECOST. 


873 


And  then,  it  was — an  abiding  coming.     When  the   Holy  Spirit  came 
down   upon  the  church  of  Christ,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  he  did  not 


w^Mi^ii^j^'^'^jmi3^jmiLjm)i:^')^^)^)i3ii~>fm^)siJ^n : 


To  feel  the  power  and  presence  of  that  Spirit. 


come  to  remain  for  a  little  while,  and  then  go  back  to  heaven.     No  !  but 
he  came  to  sfay.     When  Jesus  spoke  to  the  disciples  about  the  coming  of 


874  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

the  Holy  Ghost,  he  used  these  words :  "  And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and 
he  shall  give  you  another  Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you  forever." 
St.  John  xiv:  i6. 

It  was  not  for  the  help  and  comfort  of  the  apostles  and  early  Christ- 
ians only,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  came.  No ;  but  it.  was  for  the  help  and 
comfort,  of  all  the  people  of  Christ,  down  to  the  end  of  the  world.  The 
coming  of  the  Spirit,  which  took  place  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  was  in- 
tended to  be  an  abiding  coming.  He  has  never  left  the  church  from  that 
day.  But  he  may  be  present,  without  putting  forth  his  power,  and  mak- 
ing his  presence  felt.  What  we  need  to  pray  for,  is,  not  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  may  come  into  our  churches ;  for  he  is  there ;  but  that  he  may  make 
his  power  and  presence  felt.  What  we  want  above  all  things,  in  our 
hearts,  in  our  homes,  in  our  Sunday  Schools,  and  in  our  churches,  is  to 
feel  the  power  and  presence  of  that  Spirit,  who  came  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost, and  whose  coming  was  to  be  an  abiding  coming. 

And  so,  when  we  would  show  the  manner  of  the  Spirit's  coming  to 
the  early  church,  we  may  say  that  it  was  an  expected  coming — a  sudden 
coming — a  startling  coming — and  an  abiding  coming. 

And  now,  the  only  other  thing  to  notice,  is — The — purpose — of  the 
spirit's  coming. 

And  if  we  wish  to  understand  clearly,  the  meaning  of  this  part  of  the 
subject,  there  are  these  two  things  for  us  to  consider;  viz.,  7uhat the  Holy 
Spirit  is ;  and  what  the  Holy  Spirit  does. 

And  in  order  to  understand  satisfactorily  what  the  Holy  Spirit  is — 
we  must  find  out  what  the  scriptures  call  him ;  and  how  the  scriptures 
speak  of  him.  Here  are  some  of  the  titles  given  to  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the 
scriptures,  or  the  names  by  which  he  is  called. 

The  great  names,  Jehovah,  Lord,  and  God  are  all  given  to  the  Spirit. 
He  is  called— the  Most  High— the  Holy  Spirit— the  Holy  Ghost— the 
Free  Spirit — the  Good  Spirit — the  Spirit  of  Life — the  Spirit  of  Truth — 
the  Spirit  of  Grace — the  Spirit  of  Adoption — the  Spirit  of  Wisdom — the 
Spirit  of  Counsel — the  Spirit  of  Might — the  Spirit  of  Knowledge — the 
Spirit  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord — the  Spirit  of  Promise — the  Eternal  Spirit 
— the  Power  of  the  Highest — the  Comforter — the  Guide — the  Teacher. 

And  the  giving  of  such  names  as  these  to  the  Holy  Spirit  proves  two 


THE    DAY    OF   PENTECOST. 


875 


things  about  him,  one  is  that  he  is  a  real  person;  and  the  other  is  that  he 
is  God.  He  is  a  divine  person  equal  to  God  the  Father,  and  to  God  the 
Son. 

And  this  is  proved,  not  only  by  the  names  given  to  him :  but  also  by 
the  way  in  which  the  scnptnres  speak  of  him.  Let  us  look  at  one  or  two 
illustrations  of  the  way  in  which  they 
do  this.  When  the  prophet  Isaiah  is 
speaking  of  Ghrist,  the  Messiah,  he  re- 
presents him,  as  saying  of  himself — 
"  And  now,  the  Lord  God,  and  his 
Spirit  hath  sent  me."  Is.  xlviii :  16. 
Here  we  see  the  three  persons  of  the 
Holy  Trinity — God  the  Father — God 
the  Son — and  God  the  Holy  Spirit  are 
spoken  of,  as  all  working  together.  God 
the  Son  is  sent,  and  God  the  Father 
and  God  the  Spirit,  are  the  ones  who 
send  him. 

We  see  them  uniting  together 
again,  in  the  same  way,  on  the  occasion 
of  our  Saviour's  baptism.  Thus  we 
read,  "  And  Jesus,  when  he  was  bap- 
tized, went  up  straightway  out  of  the 
water,  and  lo,  the  heavens  were  opened 
unto  him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit  of  God 
descending  like  a  dove,  and  lighting 
upon  him  ;  And  lo,  a  voice  from  heaven 
saying.  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  I  am  well  pleased."  St.  Matth. 
iii :  16,  17.  Here  we  see  the  three 
Persons  of  the  blessed  Trinity  acting  together.  God  the  Son  has  taken 
our  nature  upon  him,  and  is  baptized,  as  a  man,  in  the  river  Jordan.  God 
the  Spirit  comes  down  from  heaven  in  the  form  of  a  dove,  and  rests  upon 
him ;  while  God  the  Father  speaks  from  heaven,  in  a  voice  that  was  heard 
by  those  who  were  attending  that  baptism.     This  proves  to  us   that  there 


The  Spirit  of  Faith. 


876  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


are  three  Persons,  in  the  One  God,  whom  we  worship;  and  that  the  Holy 
Spirit,  who  came  down  upon  the  church  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  is  the 
third  Person  in  this  Trinity.  He  is  a  divine  Person,  equal  to  the  Father 
and  the  Son.  It  is  impossible  to  explain,  satisfactorily,  what  took  place  at 
the  baptism  of  our  Saviour,  in  any  other  way.  And  in  this  way,  we  get  a 
clear  view  of  the  first  thing,  important  for  us  to  know,  in  order  to  under- 
stand the  meaning  of  the  Spirit's  coming.  We  see  now  what  the  Holy 
spirit  is.  He  is  a  divine  Person — united  with  the  Father,  and  the  Son,  in 
the  great  work  of  our  salvation,  and  equal  to  them  both. 

And  then,  there  is  another  thing,  that  we  must  understand  clearly,  if 
we  would  know  the  purpose  of  the  Spirit's  coming,  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost— and  that  is — what  the  Spirit  does.  This  refers  to  the  work  which 
the  Holy  Spirit  has  to  do  in  the  church  of  Christ.  It  takes  in,  both  what 
he  had  to  do  in  the  church  when  he  first  came,  and  also  what  he  has  to  do 
now.  The  work  which  the  Spirit  has  to  do,  for  the  souls  of  men,  is  the 
same  now,  that  it  was  then.  There  were,  indeed,  works  of  wonder,  great 
miracles,  to  be  performed  in  the  early  church,  which  are  not  done 
now. 

But,  apart  from  this,  there  is  no  difference.  The  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  has  always  been  the  same.  How  important  his  work  was  to  the 
church  at  first,  we  see  in  the  fact  that  nothing  was  done  till  the  Spirit 
came.  After  Jesus  had  ascended  to  heaven  there  was,  as  we  have  already 
said,  a  long  pause,  before  anything  else  was  done.  This  pause  lasted  for 
ten  days.  Jesus  had  left  a  great  work  for  his  disciples  to  carry  on  in  the 
world;  but  during  those  days  nobody  moved  a  step,  or  lifted  a  finger, 
towards  doing  that  work.  Everything  stood  still.  And  the  reason  for 
this  long  pause  was  that  nothing  could  be  properly  done,  in  carrying  on 
this  work,  till  the  Spirit  came.  The  disciples  had  been  distinctly  told  to 
wait  for  his  coming.  They  waited  till  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Then,  this 
Spirit  came.  Then  the  work  began — the  work  of  saving  souls  from 
death.  That  work  has  never  ceased.  It  has  been  going  on  to  the 
present  day;  and  it  will  continue  to  go  on  till  Jesus  comes  again. 

Now  there  are  four  things  that  must  be  done  for  every  soul,  that  is  to 
be  saved  through  Jesus  Christ.  And  none  but  the  Holy  Spirit  can  do 
these  things. 


THE   DAY    OF   PENTECOST.  877 

The  first  thing  that  the  Holy  Spirit  has  to  do  for  every  soul  is  to — 
CONVERT — //. 

He  began  this  work  at  once  when  he  came.  He  set  the  apostles  to 
preaching  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  result  of  the  first  day's  preaching  was — 
that  three  thousand  souls  were  converted. 

The  conversion  of  the  soul  refers  to  the  great  change  which  takes 
place  when  a  person  becomes  a  Christian.  The  word  conversion  is 
only  one,  of  several  words,  applied  to  this  subject  in  the  Scriptures.  Some- 
times it  is  called  being  quickened,  or  made  alive ;  and  at  other  times  it  is 
called  being  "  born  again."  This  was  the  way  in  which  our  Saviour  spoke, 
of  the  great  change  we  are  now  considering,  in  his  interesting  conversa- 
tion with  Nicodemus.  And  he  spoke  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  the  One  who 
is  to  work  out  this  change  in  every  case,  when  he  said—"  Except  a  man 
be  born  of  water,  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  etiter  into  the  kingdom  of 
Godr  St.  John  iii :  5.  To  be  "born  of  the  Spirit,"  is  the  same  as  to  be 
converted ;  or  to  have  the  heart  changed,  and  to  be  made  a  new  creature 
in  Christ  Jesus.  Good  people  differ  much  in  their  opinions  about  what 
our  Saviour  means  by  "  water  "  here.  Some  think  it  means  the  truth  of 
God's  word,  which  is  spoken  of  as  the  means  employed  in  the  conversion 
of  souls ;  while  others  think  that  the  word  "  water  "  here,  refers  to  bap- 
tism ;  but  we  cannot  stop  to  argue  the  point  now. 

Some  souls  are  converted,  or  born  again,  before  they  are  old  enough 
to  understand  the  truth  that  God  has  taught  us  in  his  holy  word.  We 
have  two  cases  of  this  kind  mentioned  in  the  Bible.  One  is  the  prophet 
Jeremiah,  chap,  i :  5,  and  the  other  John  the  Baptist,  St.  Luke  i :  15.  When 
it  says  of  one  of  these  that  he  was  "sanctified  ;"  and  of  the  other  that  he 
was  "filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost"  from  the  time  he  was  born,  it  means 
that  the  great  change,  of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  was  made  in  them 
both,  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  at  that  early  time.  And  so  it  may  be  now,  with 
children,  even  while  they  are  very  young,  especially  if  they  have  Christian 
parents  to  pray  for  them.  But,  if  they  are  not  converted,  or  born  again, 
till  they  grow  up  to  be  boys  and  girls,  or  men  and  women,  then  the  word 
or  truth  of  God  is  that  which  the  Holy  Spirit  makes  use  of,  in  causing 
them  to  be  converted,  or  born  again.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  one,  out 
of  many  ways,  in  which  the  Spirit  does  this. 


878  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

How  a  Christmas  Card  Saved  a  Soitl. — There  was  a  merchant,  in  one 
of  our  large  cities,  who  had  failed  in  business.  He  had  lost  everything 
that  he  had.  He  was  not  a  Christian,  and  did  not  know  where  to  go  for 
comfort.  His  troubles  and  disappointments  made  him  gloomy  and  sad. 
He  saw  no  way  in  which  he  could  get  out  of  his  troubles ;  and  after 
thinking  over  them  a  long  time,  he  finally  made  up  his  mind  to  go  to 
the  river  and  drown  himself  He  was  not  married,  and  had  no  family  of 
his  own  ;  but  there  were  a  number  of  children  in  the  house  where  he  lived. 

This  happened  on  a  Christmas  day.  The  children  had  just  come 
home  from  their  Sunday-school  festival.  In  passing  through  the  entry, 
one  of  them  dropped  a  beautifully  illuminated  card,  with  a  text  of 
scripture  on  it.  As  the  poor  man  was  going  out,  on  his  sad  errand,  his 
eye  rested  on  this  card,  lying  on  the  entry  floor.  He  stooped  down  and 
picked  it  up,  and  read  on  it  these  sweet  words — "Casting  all  your  care 
on  him,  for  he  careth  for  you."  i  Peter  v:  7.  Reading  these  words  had 
a  strange  effect  upon  him.  Instead  of  going  out  to  drown  himself,  he 
went  back  to  his  room;  got  his  Bible;  found  the  passage  there,  and 
meditated  on  it.  He  thought  of  the  great  sin  he  had  just  been  going  to 
commit,  in  taking  away  his  owm  life.  Then  he  thought  of  all  his  other 
sins.  This  filled  him  with  great  distress.  The  burden  of  his  sins  soon 
grew  to  be  heavier  than  the  burden  of  his  losses  and  cares.  He  kneeled 
to  pray.  With  many  tears  and  cries  he  asked  for  the  pardon  of  his  sins, 
and  for  grace  to  make  him  a  Christian.  His  prayer  was  heard.  His  sins 
were  pardoned.  His  burdens  were  lifted  off.  He  became  a  Christian. 
He  was  converted  by  God's  blessing  on  that  text  of  scripture.  And  it 
might  truly  be  said  of  him  that  he  was  "born  of  water  ar^d  of  the  Spirit." 

One  part  of  the  work  which  the  Holy  Spirit  has  to  do  for  men  is  to 
convert  them.  And  this  is  a  fair  illustration  of  one  of  the  ways  in  which 
he  does  it. 

But  another  part  of  the  Spirit's  ivork  is  to — teach — men,  as  well  as 
to  convert  them. 

When  Jesus  was  speaking  to  the  disciples  of  the  Spirit,  whom  he 
promised  to  send,  he  said,  "He  shall  teach  yon  all  things!'  St.  John  xiv: 
26.  But,  when  our  Lord  spoke  of  the  Spirit  teaching  us  "  all  things,"  he 
did  not  mean  those  things  which  we  can  find  out  ourselves,  by  diligence 


THE    DAY    OF   PENTECOST.  879 

in  study.  We  do  not  need  the  help  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  teach  us  spell- 
ing, or  reading,  or  history,  or  geography.  He  meant  "all  things"  about 
himself,  and  the  work  he  has  done  for  our  salvation.  Sin  has  closed  the 
eyes  of  our  souls.  It  has  made  us  blind  to  spiritual  things.  One  part  of 
the  Spirit's  work  is  to  open  our  eyes  so  that  we  may  see.  David  was 
seeking  the  Spirit's  help  in  this  matter  when  he  offered  the  prayer,  "Open 
thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law."  We 
may  be  very  learned  in  the  things  that  are  taught  in  our  schools  and  col- 
leges. We  m.ay  know  a  great  deal  about  different  languages;  about 
botany,  and  chemistry,  and  mathematics,  and  astronomy,  and  other  studies 
of  that  kind.  But  all  this  will  not  help  us  to  understand  the  things  taught 
in  the  Bible  about  Christ,  and  the  way  to  heaven.  The  knowledge  of 
other  things  is  sometimes  a  hindrance,  rather  than  a  help,  in  trying  to 
understand  the  Bible.  In  learning  w^hat  is  here  taught,  none  but  the 
Spirit  of  God  can  help  us. 

Suppose  we  take  a  blind  man  into  a  large  gallery,  filled  with 
fine  paintings,  and  beautiful  statuary.  It  is  a  clear  day.  The  sun  is 
shining  through  the  windows,  and  there  is  plenty  of  light  there.  But  that 
is  no  help  to  our  blind  friend.  We  point  to  one  after  another  of  the 
beautiful  paintings  before  us,  and  describe  them  to  him.  But  still,  he 
cannot  see  one  of  them.  And  then,  suppose  that  we  had  the  power  to 
open  the  blind  man's  eyes,  so  that  he  could  see  them  all  for  himself;  what 
a  wonderful  change  that  would  make  to  him  !  And  this  is  what  the  Holy 
Spirit  does  for  us.  The  Bible  is  like  a  great  gallery.  It  is  full  of  beauti- 
ful pictures,  such  as  none  but  God  can  make.  But  our  eyes  are  blinded, 
and  we  cannot  se,e  them.  The  Spirit's  work  is  to  open  these  blind  eyes 
so  that  we  may  see. 

And  the  great  end  of  all  the  Spirit's  teaching  is  to  help  us  to  see 
Jesus,  as  our  Saviour,  and  the  one  in  whom  we  must  trust  for  everything 
necessary  to  our  salvation.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  what  I  mean.  We 
may  call  it — 

yesus  Only. — A  lady  had  been  trying  for  some  time  to  be  a  Christian, 
but  she  could  find  no  comfort.  The  minister  of  the  church  which  she 
attended  called  to  see  her.  Finding  that  though  she  went  regularly  to 
church,  and  read  her  Bible  at  home,  and  prayed  every  day,  she  yet  found 


88o 


THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


no  peace;  he  said  to  her,  "  My  friend,  do  you  expect  to  be  saved  because 
you  are  doing  these  things  ?" 

"  Certainly  I  do,"  was  her  answer. 


Filled  with  fine  paintings  and  beautiful  pieces  of  statuary. 

"  Well  this  is  your  mistake.  You  are  putting  these  in  the  place  of 
[esus.  There  is  no  peace,  or  comfort,  or  salvation  anywhere  but  in  Jesus 
only.     Now  let  me  give  you   one  verse  to  think  about,  and  act  upon. 


THE    DAY    OF  PENTECOST.  88i 

Jesus  said — '  Come  unto  me — and  I  will  give  you  rest.'     Have  you  gone 
to  Jesus  only  for  rest,  and  peace  and  salvation  ?" 

She  looked  amazed.  She  thought  awhile  of  what  had  been  said  to 
her,  and  then  burst  into  tears.  New  light  shone  in  upon  her.  It  was 
like  opening  the  eyes  that  had  been  blind.  She  saw  that  it  was  Jesus, 
and  ycsHS  only,  that  she  needed.  She  came  to  him;  that  is  she  trusted, 
or  believ'ed  in  him,  and  here  she  found  rest,  and  peace,  and  salvation. 

When  Jesus  was  speaking  to  his  disciples  about  the  coming  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  he  said — "  he  shall  testify  of  me."  This  was  what  the  Spirit 
did  in  the  case  just  mentioned.  And  this  is  what  he  is  doing  all  the 
time.  The  end  of  all  his  teaching  is  to  show  us  that  "Jesus  only"  can 
give  rest,  and  peace,  and  salvation  to  poor  lost  sinners. 

Another  part  of  the  Spin fs  work  is  to — sanctify — or  make  holy — 
all  the  people  of  Christ. 

He  is  called — the  Holy  Spirit, — not  only  because  he  is  holy  himself, 
but  because  his  work  is  to  make  his  people  holy.  And  this  is  what  we  all 
need  to  make  us  fit  for  heaven.  The  great  law  of  that  blessed  world,  the 
law  that  is  written,  as  it  were,  over  the  gate  of  heaven,  is  this — "  without 
holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord.''  And  Jesus  pointed  out  the  way  in 
which  this  holiness,  or  sanctification  is  to  be  secured,  when  he  was  pray- 
ing for  his  disciples,  and  said,  "  Sanctify  them  through  thy  truth."  The 
truth  here  spoken  of,  means  "  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus ;"  or  the  things 
that  the  Bible  tells  us  about  him.  This  truth  is  the  instrument,  or  means, 
which  the  Spirit  employs  in  making  us  holy.  The  best  definition  of  holi- 
ness is  to  say  that  it  means  being  made  like  jFesns.  He  is  the  example, 
or  model,  we  have  set  before  us,  and  which  we  must  try  to  imitate.  We 
must  ask  ourselves  what  would  Jesus  think,  or  feel,  or  say,  or  do  if  he 
were  in  our  position  ?  and  then  we  must  try  to  think,  and  feel,  and  speak, 
and  act  as  much  like  him  as  possible.  And  so  you  see  how  important  it 
is  for  us  to  know  "  the  truth,"  or  what  the  Bible  teaches  us  about  him, 
because,  it  is  only  in  this  way,  that  we  can  ever  hope  to  become  like  him, 
or  to  be  made  holy. 

There  was  a  famous  artist  in  Italy  many  years  ago,  whose  name  was 
Michael  Angelo.  He  was  a  great  painter  and  a  great  sculptor.  And 
when  he  was  occupied  on  any  work,  he  always  took  the  greatest  pains  to 


882  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 


finish  it,  as  finely  as  possible.  He  was  once  engaged  in  making  the  statue 
of  an  angel,  out  of  a  block  of  white  marble.  At  last  it  was  nearly  done , 
but  still,  he  lingered  over  it,  trying  to  improve  it,  in  every  possible  way. 
He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  old  proverb,  that  "whatever  is  worth  doing, 
is  worth  doing  well."  A  person  who  had  been  in  his  studio,  and  had 
seen  him  at  work  upon  this  statue,  came  back,  several  days  after,  and 
found  him  busy  with  it  still.  "  Why,"  said  he,  "  I  don't  see  that  you  have 
done  anything  since  I  was  here  before." 

"  O,  yes,  I  have,"  said  the  great  artist.  "  It  was  too  full  here,  and  I 
have  reduced  it  somewhat.  I  have  brought  that  muscle  out  better.  I  have 
rounded  off  this  arm.  I  have  improved  the  lip  here;  and  the  chin  there, 
and  I  have  put  more  expression  into  the  face." 

"  Well,  but  these  are  mere  trifles,"  said  the  visitor. 

"They  help  to  make  my  work  perfect;  and  perfection  is  no  trifle  I' 
was  the  great  man's  wise  reply. 

And  this  shows  us  exactly,  what  the  Spirit's  work  is  in  making  us 
holy.  It  is  trying  to  make  us,  more  and  more,  like  the  model  of  perfection 
we  have  set  before  us  in  Jesus.  But  there  is  one  point  of  difference 
between  Michael  Angelo's  work,  on  his  marble  statue,  and  the  Spirit's 
work  upon  us.  That  block  of  marble  was  a  dead  stone.  It  could  do 
nothing  at  all  to  help  the  sculptor  in  his  work  upon  it.  But  we  are  living 
stones,  in  the  hands  of  the  heavenly  Artist.  We  can,  and  must  take  hold, 
and  help,  in  the  great  work  which  the  Holy  Spirit  is  carrying  on,  in  trying 
to  make  us  more  holy,  or  more  like  Jesus.  And  as  we  yield  ourselves  to 
the  blessed  influences  of  the  Spirit,  we  should  be  lifting  up  our  hearts  to 
Jesus,  in  the  prayer, 

"  Make  us,  by  transforming  grace, 
Dear  Saviour,  daily  more  like  thee/" 

And  then  there  is  one  other  thing  the  Holy  Spirit  has  to  do,  in  carry- 
ing on  his  great  work,  and  that  is  to — help  and  comfort — ns. 

The  work  we  have  to  do,  as  the  followers  of  Christ,  is  what  we  nevei 
can  do  of  ourselves.  We  need  the  help  of  the  Holy  Spirit  here  all  the 
time.     It  is  only  he,  who  can,  in  the   language  of   one  of  our  beautiful 


THE   DAY    OF  PENTECOST.  883 

Collects,  help  us  to  ''think  those  things  that  are  good,  and  then  enable  us 
to  perform  the  same."  But  he  can,  as  another  of  the  Collects  says,  both 
"  put  into  our  hearts  good  desires,  and  give  us  grace  to  bring  the  same 
to  good  effect."  The  Spirit  is  given  for  this  purpose.  And  if  we 
seek  and  secure  his  help,  we  shall  not  only  be  able  to  do  all  that  God 
requires,  but  we  shall  find  comfort  in  doing  it.  The  work  of  the 
Spirit  is  to  give  help,  and  comfort,  to  those  who  are  trying  to  serve 
the  blessed  Saviour.  And  it  is  because  he  does  this  that  he  is  so  often 
called  the  Comforter.  How  many  illustrations  we  find  of  the  way  in 
which  the  Spirit  does  this  part  of  his  work!  But  we  have  only  room 
for  one. 

Blind  Robert. — Robert's  mother  was  a  poor  widow.  She  had  a 
large  family  of  children.  Robert  was  the  youngest.  His  mother  took 
in  washing.  His  brothers  and  sisters  all  helped  to  support  the  family,  by 
working  in  one  way  or  other.  But  poor  blind  Robert  could  not  work. 
The  only  way  in  which  he  could  help  his  mother  was,  by  carrying  home 
the  clothes  for  her,  when  the  washing  and  ironing  were  over.  And  it  was 
a  touching  sight,  to  see  him  with  a  large  basket  on  his  arm,  full  of  clothes, 
and  groping  his  way,  slowly  and  carefully  along.  But  Robert  had  been 
taught  by  the  Spirit,  to  know  and  love  the  Saviour;  and  what  help  and 
comfort  he  found  in  him,  appears  in  the  following  conversation,  between 
him  and  a  gentleman,  who  met  him  on  the  road  one  day. 

After  talking  with  him,  for  a  while,  about  his  mother  and  family,  the 
gentleman  asked  him  if  it  did  not  make  him  unhappy  to  think  of  being 
blind.  For  a  moment,  he  looked  sad;  then  he  smiled,  and  said:  "Some- 
times I  think  it  hard  to  have  to  creep  about  so.  I  should  so  like  to  look 
at  the  bright  sun,  that  warms  me;  and  the  sweet  birds,  that  sing  for  me; 
and  the  beautiful  flowers,  that  feel  so  soft  as  I  touch  them.  But  God 
made  me  blind,  and  I  know  that  it  is  best  for  me.  I  am  glad  that  he  did 
not  make  me  deaf  and  dumb,  too.  I  am  glad  that  he  gave  me  such  a 
good  mother.  But,  above  all,  I  am  so  glad  that  he  has  taught  me  to 
know  and  love  the  blessed  Saviour;  for  I  find  it  such  a  help  and  comfort 
to  think  about  him." 

"And  how  does  the  Saviour  help  you?" 

"  Oh,  sir,  I  pray  to  him ;  and  then  I  seem  to  hear  him  say,  '  I  forgive 


884  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

you,  Robert;  I  love  you,  poor,  blind  boy!  I  will  take  away  your  evil 
heart,  and  give  you  a  new  one  ! '  And  then  I  feel  so  happy ;  it  seems  to 
me  as  if  I  could  almost  hear  the  angels  singing  up  in  heaven." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  this,  Robert.  And  do  you  ever  expect  to  see 
the  angels?" 

"Oh,  yes,  sir!  When  I  die,  my  spirit  will  not  be  blind.  //  is  only 
my  clay  house  that  has  110  windows.  I  can  see  with  my  mind  now;  and 
that,  mother  tells  me,  is  the  way  they  see  in  heaven.  I  heard  mother 
reading  in  the  Bible,  the  other  day,  where  it  tells  about  heaven,  and  it 
said  there  is  '  no  night  there.'  But  here,  it  is  night  to  blind  people  all  the 
time.  Oh !  sir,  when  I  feel  bad  because  I  can't  see,  I  think  of  Jesus  and 
heaven,  and  that  helps  and  comforts  me." 

This  is  a  beautiful  illustration  of  this  part  of  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  It  shows  us  how  the  Spirit  helps,  and  comforts  us.  It  is  by 
testifying  of  Jesus,  or  by  teaching  us  to  know  what  a  precious  Saviour 
he  is,  and  what  glorious  things  he  does  for  those  who  love  him. 

And  now  we  have  considered  the  three  things  about  the  coming  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  mentioned  at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter.  We  have 
spoken  of  the  time  of  his  coming — on  the  day  of  Pentecost;  the  manner 
of  his  coming — expected — sudden — startling — and  abiding ;  and  we  have 
spoken  of  the  purpose  of  his  coming ;  this  led  us  to  show  what  the  Spirit  is 
— he  is  a  divine  person — one  of  the  three  Persons  in  the  blessed  Trinity ; 
and  what  the  Spirit  docs.  His  work  is  to  convert— to  teach — to  sanctify, 
or  make  holy — and  to  help  and  comfort  all  the  people  of  Christ. 

Jesus  left  the  great  work  to  be  done  for  his  church,  and  by  his  church, 
in  good  hands,  when  he  left  it  with  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Let  us  pray  God  to  give  us  a  larger  measure  of  the  Holy  Spirit's 
presence  and  power  in  our  hearts,  and  then  we  shall  be  holy,  and  useful, 
and  happy  1 


THE  APOSTLE  PETER. 


N  our  last  chapter,  we  saw  how  the  Spirit  of 
God  came  down  from  heaven,  to  carry  on 
the  work  which  Jesus  left  for  his  people  to  do, 
after  his  ascension.  And  now,  before  leaving 
this  subject,  it  is  necessary  to  show  what  the 
Holy  Spirit  did  to  build  up  the  Church,  on 
the  foundation  which  Jesus  had  laid  for  it; 
and  to  make  known  to  a  world  of  lost  sin- 
ners, the  great  salvation  which  he  had  pre- 
pared for  them.  The  best  way  of  doing 
this,  would  be  to  give  a  sketch  of  the  lives 
and  labors  of  the  twelve  apostles,  whom  our 
Lord  had  chosen,  and  left  behind  him,  to 
carry  on  the  important  work  begun  by  him.  But  this  would  take  more 
room  than  we  can  spare.  There  are  only  two  numbers  now  remaining  to 
finish  this  work.  All  that  can  be  done,  therefore,  is  to  make  choice  of 
three  of  the  principal  apostles,  and  take  their  histories  as  fair  specimens, 
of  the  way  in  which  the  work  of  building  up  the  church  was  carried  on,  by 
them  and  their  companions,  after  Jesus,  their  great  Master,  had  ascended 
into  heaven. 

88s 


886  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

The  three  selected  for  this  purpose  are,  the  apostle  Peter,  the  apostle 
John,  and  the  apostle  Paul.  All  will  agree  in  regarding  these  as  among 
"  the  very  chief  of  the  apostles."     We  begin  then  with 

THE   APOSTLE    PETER. 

And  in  considering  the  life  of  this  great  and  good  man,  the  two 
points  of  view  from  which  we  may  look  at  it  are,  the  facts  of  his  history  ; 
and  the  lessons  which  it  teaches. 

We  begin  then,  with  considering  the  facts  of  St.  Peter's  history,  as 
mentioned  in  the  New  Testament.  We  shall  not  attempt  to  give  all  the 
facts,  woven  into  this  history.  It  will  be  enough,  for  our  present  purpose, 
if  the  principal  facts  are  stated.  The  first  fact  to  notice  about  this  good 
man  is,  that  he  was  a  native  of  the  city  of  Bethsaida,  on  the  northern 
coast  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  and  that  his  father's  name  was  Jonas,  or  Jonah. 
The  next  thing  known  of  him  is,  that  his  occupation  was  that  of  a  fisher- 
man. It  is  a  fact,  that  he  was  first  brought  to  Jesus  by  his  brother  Andrew, 
who  had  been  one  of  the  disciples  of  John  the  Baptist.  Jesus  spoke 
kindly  to  him,  and  told  him  that  his  name  should  be  changed  from 
Simon,  as  he  was  then  called,  to  Cephas,  which  is  the  Greek  word 
for  a  rock,  or  a  stone.  The  Latin  word,  that  means  the  same  thing,  is  the 
word  Petrus.  And  so  Cephas,  or  Peter,  is  the  name  by  which  he  was 
afterwards  called.  St.  John  i:  41,42;  St.  Math,  xvi:  18.  It  is  a  fact,  that 
he  did  not  continue  to  follow  Jesus,  as  one  of  his  disciples,  immediately 
after  this  first  interview  with  him,  but  went  back,  for  a  while,  to  his  old 
employment  as  a  fisherman. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  some  time  after  this,  he  was  called  by  Jesus  to  be 
one  of  his  disciples.  It  happened  in  this  way : — One  day,  Jesus  was 
standing  on  the  shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee.  A  crowd  of  people  were 
pressing  around  him,  to  hear  him  preach.  He  wanted  a  convenient  place 
from  which  to  speak  to  them.  Peter  was  near  at  hand,  in  his  fishing-boat. 
Jesus  stepped  on  board  the  boat,  and  asked  Peter  to  push  it  out  a  little 
way  from  the  land.  He  did  so ;  and  Jesus  made  a  pulpit  of  that  boat,  and 
preached  to  the  people,  as  they  stood  upon  the  shore  of  the  lake.  When 
the  sermon  was  ended,  Jesus  told  Peter  to  push  the  boat  out  into  deep 
water,  and  let  down  the  net,  and  he  would  catch  a  fine  lot  of  fish.     Peter 


THE    APOSTLE   PETER. 


887 


said   they  had  been  fishing  all  night,  and  had  caught  nothing.    Still,  he 

did  as  Jesus  told  him ;  and  immediately  they  found  more  fish  than  their 

net  would  hold.     This  showed  Peter  the  wonderfijl  knowledge  and  power 

of  Jesus.     He  felt  afraid  of  him,  and  fell  down  at  his  feet,  saying,  "  Depart 

from  me,  for  I  am  a  sinful  man, 

O  Lord  !  "    Jesus  said  unto  him, 

Fear  not ;    from  henceforth  thou 

shalt  catch   men.      St.  Luke  vi : 

i-ii.     St.  Matthew  tells  us  that 

on    this  occasion,  Jesus   said   to 

Peter  and   his   brother  Andrew, 

"Follow  me;    and    I  will    make 

you   fishers  of   men."   St.  Math. 

iv:   18,  19. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  some  time 
after  this,  Jesus  chose  out  from 
the  rest  of  his  disciples,  Peter,  and 
eleven  others,  to  be  his  twelve 
apostles.  They  were  to  be  with 
him  at  all  times,  to  hear  his 
teachings,  in  private,  as  well  as 
in  public;  to  witness  his  miracles; 
and  be  prepared,  in  this  way, 
to  take  up  and  carry  on  his 
work,  when  he  should  return  to 
heaven.  We  have  the  account 
of  this  in  St.  Math,  x:  2-4;  St. 
Mark  iii :  13-19;  and  St.  Luke 
vi:    13-17. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  in  these 
different  lists  of  the  apostles,  the 
name  of  Peter  always  stands  first.  We  are  not  told  why  this  was 
so.  One  thing  is  certain,  however,  it  was  not  because  he  was  set 
above  the  rest  of  the  apostles,  or  had  any  power  or  authority  superior 
to  what  was  given  to  the  others.     It  was,  probably,  only  because  he  was 


'^yEllW^:mHM)!DK?iS 


.A 


Peter  and  Thomas. 


888  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

quicker  to  speak,  and  more  ready  to  act,  than  his  brethren  were.  Two 
occasions  are  mentioned  in  the  gospels,  on  which  he  did  this.  One  of 
them  was,  when  some  of  the  followers  of  Jesus  were  offended  at  his 
preaching.  They  went  away,  and  would  not  hear  him  any  more.  Then 
Jesus  turned  to  his  chosen  twelve,  and  said:  "Will  ye  also  go  away?" 
Peter,  speaking  for  the  rest,  immediately  replied :  "  Lord,  to  whom  shall 
we  go  ?     Thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal  life."  St.  John  vi :  66-69. 

The  other  occasion  was,  when  the  disciples  had  returned  from  one 
of  the  missionary  tours  on  which  they  had  been  sent.  Jesus  asked  them 
what  men  said  about  him.  Different  answers  were  given  to  this  question ; 
but  none  of  them  were  correct.  Then  he  asked  them  what  they  thought 
about  him.  Peter,  at  once,  answering  for  the  rest,  said :  "  Thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God."  This  was  a  noble  confession.  It 
showed  that  Peter  had  very  clear  views  of  the  character  of  Jesus,  and  of 
the  work  he  came  on  earth  to  do.  Jesus  pronounced  a  blessing  on  him 
for  this,  and  said  :  "  Thou  art  Peter ;  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my 
church,  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it."  St.  Math,  xvi :  18. 
TJiere  has  been  great  difference  of  opinion,  among  good  Christian  people, 
about  the  meaning  of  these  words  of  our  Saviour.  They  cannot  mean 
that  Peter,  in  his  person,  or  in  his  office  as  an  apostle,  was  to  be  the  rock, 
or  foundation,  on  which  the  church  of  Christ  was  to  be  built.  This  is 
certain ;  because  St.  Paul  tells  us,  that  there  is  only  one  foundation,  on 
which  this  church  is  built,  and  that  is,  Christ  himself,  i  Corinthians  iii :  11. 
There  can  be  no  doubt,  I  think,  that  what  Jesus  meant  here  was,  that  the 
noble  confession,  which  Peter  made  on  this  occasion,  was  the  truth  on 
which  his  church  was  to  be  built.     And  this,  we  know,  is  the  case. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  Peter,  with  James  and  John,  was  present  to  see  and 
hear  what  JeSus  said,  and  did,  and  suffered,  on  several  occasions  when 
the  other  disciples  were  not  present.  One  of  these  occasions  was,  when 
he  raised  the  daughter  of  Jairus  from  the  dead.  Another  occasion  was, 
when  Jesus  appeared  in  such  wondrous  glory,  on  the  mount  of  trans- 
figuration. And,  in  striking  contrast  to  this,  when  he  sank  to  the  earth, 
amidst  the  gloomy  shades  of  Gethsemane,  overwhelmed  by  the  "agony 
and  bloody  sweat,"  Peter  was  one  of  the  three  chosen  witnesses  of  that 
awful  scene. 


THE    APOSTLE    PETER. 


889 


It  is  a  fact,  that,  when  he  saw  his  Master  walking  on  the  water,  he 
asked  permission  to  come  and  meet  him,  by  walking  over  the  surface  of 
the  sea.  Jesus  gave  him  leave  to  come.  He  got  out  of  the  ship,  and 
began  that  watery  walk.  But,  when  he  saw  the  rough  waves  rising  and 
swelling  against  him,  his  heart  sank;  his  faith  failed,  and  he  was  beginning 
to  sink,  when  Jesus  stretched 
forth  his  hand,  and  saved  him. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  on  one 
occasion,  Jesus  sent  Peter  to 
the  sea-side,  with  a  fishing- 
line  to  catch  a  fish,  in  whose 
mouth  he  was  to  find  the 
money  required  to  pay  the 
taxes  due  to  the  government, 
for  himself  and  his  Master. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  the  night 
before  the  crucifixion  of  our 
Lord,  Peter  solemnly  declared 
that  he  would  never  forsake 
his  Master,  though  all  the 
rest  of  his  followers  should 
do  so  ;  and,  even  though  he 
should  have  to  die  for  cling- 
ing to  him.  It  is  a  fact, 
nevertheless,  that  he  did  for- 
sake him  that  very  night, 
and  three  times  deny  that  he 
knew  him ;  yea,  even  with 
oaths  and  curses.  It  is  a 
fact,  that,  notwithstanding 
this,  Peter  was  freely  forgiven,  on  the  morning  of  the  resurrection,  and 
restored  to  the  place  which  he  had  forfeited,  as  one  of  the  twelve  apostles. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  after  the  ascension  of  Jesus  into  heaven,  Peter  was 
the  first  to  propose  the  election  of  another  apostle,  to  fill  the  place  which 
had  been  left  vacant  by  the  death  of  the  traitor  Judas. 


Peter  and  John  healing  the  lame  man. 


890  THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  when  the  Holy  Ghost  came  down  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost,  Peter  was  the  first  of  all  the  apostles,  to  preach  the  gospel ; 
and  that  three  thousand  souls  were  converted,  as  the  result  of  one  day's 
labors ;  and  that,  in  all  the  work  done  in  the  earliest  history  of  the  new 
church,  he  was  the  principal  preacher. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  the  first  miracle,  of  which  we  read  in  the  history  of 
the  new  church,  was  performed  by  Peter.  It  was  the  miracle  of  healing 
the  lame  man,  who  was  sitting  at  "  the  gate  of  the  temple  called 
Beautiful,"  when  Peter  and  John  were  entering  the  temple,  at  the  hour 
for  evening  prayer.     Acts  iii :   1-9. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  when  the  apostles  were  forbidden  by  the  Jewish 
rulers,  to  preach  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  Peter  was  the  first  boldly  to  tell 
them  to  their  faces,  that  they  must  "obey  God,  rather  than  men;"  and 
that,  in  spite  of  all  that  might  be  said,  or  done,  to  hinder  them,  they  would 
go  on,  and  preach  "Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified."    Acts  iv:  13-23. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  as  the  first  miracle  of  mercy,  in  the  early  church,  was 
performed  by  this  apostle,  so  was  the  first  miracle  of  judgment.  We  read 
about  this  in  Acts  v:  i-io.  It  was  before  him  that  Ananias  and  Sapphira 
were  struck  dead  for  the  sin  of  lying  and  cheating. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  the  miraculous  power  of  Peter  was  so  great,  and  so 
well-known,  that  people  laid  their  sick  friends  down  in  the  streets  along 
which  he  was  walking,  that  his  shadow  might  fall  upon  them,  and  heal 
them.     Acts  v  :  15. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  the  first  missionary  journey  undertaken,  in  the  early 
church,  was  by  this  apostle. 

It  is  a  fact,  that,  in  the  course  of  this  journey,  he  healed  a  lame  man, 
who  had  been  confined  to  his  bed  eight  years,  with  palsy.  He  also  raised 
to  life,  a  good  Christian  woman,  named  Tabitha,  or  Dorcas.  She  lived  at 
Joppa,  and  had  spent  her  time  in  making  garments  for  the  poor.  She  was 
the  founder  of  the  first  Dorcas  society  of  which  we  have  ever  heard  ;  and 
her  name  has  been  connected  with  these  excellent  charities  since  then,  all 
over  the  world.     Acts  ix :  32-43. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  when  the  time  came  for  the  opening  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  to  the  Gentiles,  it  was  the  apostle  Peter  who  had  the  honor  of 
performing  this  important  act.     He  was  the  first  minister  of  Christ  who 


THE   APOSTLE    PETER. 


891 


ever  preached  the  gospel  to  a  Gentile,  and  made  to  him  the  offer  of 
eternal  life.     He  did  this  when   he  preached  to  Cornelius,  the  Roman 


T3 
C 


centurion,  and  received  him  into  the  church,  by  baptism. 
this  great  event  in  the  tenth  chapter  of  the  Acts. 


We  read  about 


892  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


It  is  a  fact,  that  after  this,  Peter  was  put  in  prison  by  Herod,  who  was 
persecuting  the  Christians.  He  had  just  put  the  apostle  James  to  death, 
and  intended  to  do  the  same  with  Peter.  But  his  friends  united  in 
earnest  prayer  to  God  for  him;  and  God  sent  an  angel,  who  struck  off  his 
chains,  opened  the  prison  door,  and  set  him  free.     Acts  xii :   1-20. 

After  this  we  have  no  clear  account  of  the  ministry  of  St.  Peter. 
We  only  know  that  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  going  about,  from  place 
to  place,  preaching  the  blessed  gospel  of  the  great  Master,  whom  he  loved 
so  well. 

It  is  a  fact,  however,  that  he  wrote  the  two  epistles,  which  bear  his 
name,  and  which  have  been  such  a  comfort  and  blessing  to  the  church,  for 
more  than  eighteen  centuries.  And  then,  the  last  fact  in  his  history  is, 
that  he  suffered  martyrdom,  by  crucifixion,  in  the  city  of  Rome.  We 
have  no  definite  information  about  the  time  when  this  event  took  place, 
or  about  the  particulars  connected  with  it.  It  is  generally  believed  that 
the  death  of  St.  Peter  occurred  about  the  same  time  with  that  of  the 
apostle  Paul ;  and,  that  they  both  took  place  during  the  persecution  that 
arose  under  the  cruel  and  bloody  emperor  Nero.  The  tradition  is,  that 
when  St.  Peter  came  to  the  place  of  execution,  he  requested  to  be 
crucified  with  his  head  downwards,  because  he  felt  that  he  was  not  worthy 
to  suffer  in  the  same  way  in  which  his  great  Master  was  put  to  death. 

Here  we  have  woven  together  more  than  twenty  facts,  that  make  up 
the  history  of  the  apostle  Peter. 

The  next  thing  for  us  to  do  is,  to  notice  some  of  the  more  important 
lessons  taught  us  by  this  history. 

The  first  lesson  loe  may  learn  from  the  history  of  this  apostle  is,  about 

— THE    DANGER    OF    SELF-CONFIDENCE. 

Solomon  says,  "  He  that  trusteth  in  his  own  heart  is  a  fool."  Prov. 
xxviii:  26.  By  a  man  trusting  in  his  own  heart,  he  means,  having  too 
much  self-confidence.  And  the  folly  of  this  sort  of  trust,  is  seen  in  this, 
that  it  keeps  us  from  seeking  the  help  of  God ;  and  without  this  help,  we 
are  not  able  to  resist  temptation,  when  it  overtakes  us ;  and  then  we  are 
sure  to  fall.  We  see  a  striking  illustration  of  this  in  the  case  of  Peter. 
When  Jesus  told  the  disciples  that  they  would  all  forsake  him,  Peter  had 
such  trust  in  his  own  heart — such  confidence  in  himself, — that  he  said, 


THE    APOSTLE    PETER. 


893 


"Though  all  men  forsake  thee,  yet  will  I  never  forsake  thee."    And,  when 
Jesus  told  him  that,  on  that  very  night,  he  would  deny  him  thrice,  Peter, 


confidently,  declared:    "Though  I  should  die  with    thee,  yet  will  I  not 
deny  thee."     And,  no  doubt,  he  was  perfectly  honest  in  saying  this.     He 


894  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

meant  just  what  he  said.  The  trouble  with  him  was,  that  he  did  not 
know  himself.  He  trusted  too  much  in  his  own  heart.  His  confidence 
in  himself  led  him  to  neglect  praying,  for  the  help  and  strength  he  would 
need,  when  the  temptation  to  deny  his  Master  came  before  him. 

And  so,  that  very  night,  when  Jesus  was  delivered  into  the  hands  of 
his  enemies,  and  some  of  those  about  him  said  to  Peter, — "  Thou  art  one 
of  this  man's  disciples ; "  his  courage  failed  him.  He  not  only  denied 
that  he  was  a  follower  of  Jesus,  but  even  declared,  with  oaths  and  curses, 
that  he  did  not  know  him.  Here  we  see  the  folly  of  self-confidence,  of 
which  Solomon  speaks. 

And  how  many  illustrations  of  this  self-confidence  we  meet  with ! 

The  Folly  of  a  Soldier  s  Self- Confidence. — When  the  English  com- 
mander. General  Braddock,  in  the  early  history  of  this  country,  was 
leading  his  little  army  through  Pennsylvania,  to  attack  the  French  fort 
DuQuesne,  where  Pittsburgh  now  stands,  George  Washington,  then  a 
colonel,  was  an  officer  in  the  general's  staff.  The  French  had  enlisted 
the  Indians  on  their  side.  Washington  understood  the  mode  of  fighting 
which  the  Indians  adopted.  He  knew  their  custom  was,  to  hide  them- 
selves in  trees,  and  fire  upon  their  enemies  without  being  seen. 

As  the  English  army  was  pursuing  its  march,  not  far  from  the  fort 
they  were  to  attack,  they  came  to  a  dense  forest,  through  which  they  had 
to  make  their  way.  Washington  knew  that  it  was  in  just  such  a  woody 
region  that  they  might  expect  to  find  the  Indians.  He  told  General 
Braddock  what  he  feared,  and  suggested  that  he  should  command  the 
army  to  halt,  and  send  forward  some  scouts  to  examine  the  woods,  and 
find  out  if  there  were  any  Indians  there,  before  marching  through.  But 
the  general  had  so  much  confidence  in  himself,  and  in  his  own  way  of 
hianaging  his  army,  that  he  refused  to  listen  to  Washington's  advice. 
^  The  army  entered  the  forest;  but  they  had  not  gone  far,  before  they 
were  fired  upon  from  every  side.  The  firing  was  kept  up.  The  soldiers 
were  falling  to  the  ground,  killed,  or  wounded ;  but  no  enemy  was  in 
sight,  and  no  one  could  see  where  the  firing  came  from.  General  Brad- 
dock and  his  chief  officers  were  killed.  The  army  was  defeated ;  and 
Washington,  the  principal  officer  left  alive,  gathered  their  shattered  ranks 
together;  led  them  out  from  the  woods,  and  marched  them  back  to  the 


THE   APOSTLE   PETER.  895 

place  from  which  they  had  started.  The  failure  of  that  military  enterprise, 
stands  out  on  the  page  of  history,  as  a  striking  illustration  of  the  folly 
of  self-confidence. 

The  Folly  of  a  Sailor  s  Self-Conjidcuce. — The  captain  of  a  ship  had 
brought  his  vessel  to  the  entrance  of  the  channel,  that  leads  to  the  harbor 
of  one  of  the  principal  sea-port  towns  of  Scotland.  He  had  often  sailed 
in  and  out  of  that  harbor.  He  felt  confident  that  he  could  take  the  vessel 
in  himself.  When  the  pilot  came,  and  offered  his  services,  he  said  :  "  No, 
I'll  be  my  own  pilot.  I  know  every  rock  in  the  channel.  I  am  sure  I 
can  take  the  ship  safely  in." 

He  started  on  his  way.  It  was  blowing  a  gale  at  the  time.  But  he 
had  not  gone  far,  before  the  ship  was  dashed  against  a  hidden  rock,  of 
which  he  did  not  know.  The  vessel  went  to  pieces,  almost  in  sight  of 
the  harbor,  and  the  captain  and  his  crew  were  all  lost.  Here  we  see  the 
folly  of  self-confidence. 

But  we  often  see  this  folly  even  when  it  does  not  lead  to  such  fatal 
results,  as  followed  in  the  illustrations  already  given.  This  is  clearly 
shown  in  the  following  fable. 

The  Owl  That  Thought  He  Could  Sing. — "  What  in  the  world  can 
bring  so  many  people  into  the  grove  to  hear  the  nightingales  sing?"  said 
a  young  owl  to  his  mother. 

The  old  owl  didn't  know  and  didn't  care — she  was  busy  watching 
a  bat. 

"  I  am  sure  I  have  as  fine  a  voice  as  any  nightingale,  and  a  good 
deal  stronger." 

"Stronger,  certainly,  my  son,"  said  the  owl,  blinking  her  eyes,  for  the 
bat  had  escaped. 

"  I  shall  go  into  the  grove  to-night,  and  give  them  a  song,"  said  the 
self-confident  young  owl. 

The  old  owl  opened  her  round  eyes  very  wide,  but  said  nothing. 

So,  when  night  came,  and  the  hour  for  the  sweet  singing  of  the  birds 
drew  near,  he  flew  heavily  along,  and  placed  himself  in  a  part  of  the 
grove  where  he  could  be  seen  and  heard,  to  the  best  advantage. 

But  the  nightingales  did  not  like  the  prospect  either  of  his  company, 
or  his  help  In  their  concert ;  so  those  of  them  who  were  going  to  sing. 


896  THE  LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 


flew  away  to  another  grove,  while  those  who  were  to  be  quiet  for  the 
night,  kept  snugly  at  roost. 

"Where  can  the  nightingales  be?"  said  one  of  the  people  who  had 
come  to  hear  them. 

Then  the  self-confident  young  owl  set  up  a  hoot,  so  long  and  loud 
that  it  startled  the  people. 

"That  horrid  creature  has  frightened  them  all  away,"  said  one. 
"Where's  my  gun?  I'll  soon  fi.x;  him."  The  owl  took  the  hint,  and 
without  waiting  till  the  gun  appeared,  hastened  back  home. 

"Your  feathers  are  ruffled,  my  son,"  said  the  old  owl.  "  Have  you 
been  singing?" 

Then  the  foolish  young  owl  told  about  his  disgrace,  and  his  narrow 
escape  from  death. 

"  It  is  just  what  I  expected,"  said  his  mother,  "  and  I'm  glad  you  are 
safe  back." 

"Then  why  did  you  let  me  go?"  he  asked. 

"  Because  I  saw  you  wouldn't  mind  what  I  said,  and  that  nothing  but 
experience  would  teach  you  the  folly  of  thinking  too  much  of  yourself" 

That  young  owl  had  reason  to  feel  thankful  that  he  had  learned  this 
lesson  without  any  greater  harm,  or  loss  to  himself. 

The  first  lesson  from  the  history  of  this  apostle  is,  about  the  danger 
of  self-confidence. 

The  second  lesson  from  this  hishvy  is,  about — deliverance   from 

TEMPTATION. 

When  we  rise  in  the  morning,  we  can  never  tell  what  will  happen  to 
us,  before  evening.  But  Jesus  knows  all  about  things  before  they  come 
to  pass.  At  the  beginning  of  a  day,  or  week,  or  month,  or  year,  he  has  a 
clear  view  of  all  that  can  happen  to  the  end  of  it.  Early  in  the  evening 
of  the  night  on  which  he  was  betrayed,  Jesus  said  to  Peter:  "Simon, 
Simon,  Satan  hath  desired  to  have  you,  that  he  may  sift  you,  as  wheat; 
but  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not."  St.  Luke  xxii :  31,  32. 
Looking  forward  through  that  sad  and  solemn  night,  Jesus  saw  that 
Satan,  the  great  enemy  of  souls,  had  laid  a  snare,  or  prepared  a  tempta- 
tion for  Peter,  which,  he  thought,  would  ruin  his  soul  forever.  He  had 
arranged  things  in  such  a  way,  that  Peter  would  be  tempted  to  deny  his 


THE     APOSTLE    PETER. 


897 


Master,  and  would  be  most  likely  to  yield  to  the  temptation ;  and   this 
was  so  great  a  sin,  that  it  would  seem  sure   to   prevent  him  from  being 


.^.    r^Bliai'i 


/ilmm,?-^  - 


The  death  of  St.  Peter. 


one  of  the  apostles,  and  cause  him  to  lose  his  soul.     And  such  would 
have  been  the  result,  no  doubt,  if  Jesus  had  not  seen  this   temptation 


898  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

coming,  and  had  not  prepared  a  way  of  escape,  in  the  very  midst  of  it. 
He  prayed  for  Peter,  "that  his  faith  might  not  fail."  And  it  was  this 
prayer  of  Jesus  that  saved  Peter.  For  we  read  in  the  gospel,  that  as 
bOon  as  he  had  committed  his  great  sin,  he  was  sorry  for  it.  "  He  went 
out,  and  wept  bitterly^  And  it  was  just  here  that  the  prayer  of  Jesus 
secured  to  Peter  the  grace  that  led  him  to  true  repentance ;  and  this  was 
what  saved  hint.  It  was  in  this  way  that  he  was  brought  out  of  his 
temptation.  We  do  not  wonder,  therefore,  to  find  St.  Peter  using  these 
comforting  words  in  one  of  his  epistles :  "  The  Lord  knoweth  how  to 
deliver  the  godly  out  of  temptation."  2  Peter  ii :  9.  He  knew  very  well 
about  this.  He  could  speak  from  his  own  experience  here.  His  history 
aifords  a  beautiful  illustration  of  this  passage  from  his  epistle.  And  as 
we  are  all  exposed  to  temptation,  it  will  be  a  great  help  and  comfort  to  us 
to  remember  that  what  Jesus  did  for  Peter,  he  can  do  for  us. 

An  Illustration  From  History. — In  an  old  English  history,  called 
"  The  Chronicles  of  Froissart,"  there  is  an  account  given  of  the  escape  of 
the  garrison,  from  a  besieged  citadel,  which  illustrates  very  well  this  part 
of  our  subject.  An  enemy's  army  had  encamped  before  this  citadel,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  it.  They  had  completely  surrounded  it.  It  was 
impossible  for  any  one  to  go  in  or  out  of  the  place.  The  day  was  fixed 
for  storming  the  fortifications,  and  putting  the  garrison  to  death.  The 
assault  was  made.  The  walls  were  mounted,  and  the  gates  forced  open  ; 
but  no  one  was  found  within.  What  had  become  of  them  ?  On  examin- 
ing the  place,  it  was  found  that  through  the  solid  rock,  on  which  the 
fortress  was  built,  a  secret  passage-way  had  been  made.  It  led  down 
under  the  walls,  far  away  from  the  besieged  citadel,  out  into  the  beautiful 
country  beyond  it.  Thus  the  soldiers,  and  inhabitants  of  that  fortress 
found  "a  way  of  escape  "  from  the  power  of  their  enemies. 

A)i  Illustration  From  Daily  Life. — A  gentleman,  who  lived  in  a 
small  country  town,  in  England,  obtained  a  situation  for  his  son,  a 
promising  young  ma-n,  in  one  of  the  banks  in  the  city  of  London.  His 
father  took  him  up  to  London,  and  introduced  him  to  the  president  of 
the  bank,  and  the  other  officers.  On  taking  leave  of  his  son,  the  father 
said  •-  "  Harry,  my  boy,  you  must  be  obedient,  obliging,  civil,  and  respect- 
ful ;    be  attentive  to  your  business,  and  trustworthy.     Above  all   things. 


THE    APOSTLE    PETER.  899 

never  forget  these  four  words — "  TJwu,  God,  seest  tne."  Harry  promised 
his  father,  solemnly,  to  do  as  he  had  said.  And  he  did  so,  for  awhile. 
He  gained  the  confidence  of  all  about  him,  and  rose,  by  degrees,  till  he 
held  one  of  the  most  responsible  positions  in  the  bank.  Thousands  of 
pounds  passed  through  his  hands  every  day.  At  last,  temptation  overtook 
him.  The  thought  came  into  his  mind,  how  easy  it  would  be  to  make 
himself  rich,  by  quietly  taking  some  of  this  gold  and  silver,  without 
any  one  knowing  it.  He  was  frightened  when  this  idea  first  entered  his 
mind,  and  tried  to  put  it  away.  But  still  it  would  come  back  to  him, 
again  and  again,  till  he  ceased  to  be  alarmed  at  it.  Finally,  it  seemed  to 
take  full  possession  of  him.     He  made  up  his  mind  to  do  it. 

One  evening,  when  all  the  others  had  left  the  bank,  he  remained 
behind,  under  pretence  of  finishing  some  business.  He  went  to  the  vault, 
and  put  in  the  keys.  The  heavy  door  flew  open.  But,  just  as  he  had 
reached  out  his  hands,  and  grasped  the  money,  his  father's  words — 
"Thou,  God,  seest  me" — came  into  his  mind.  The  money  dropped  from 
his  hands,  as  if  it  had  been  red-hot  iron.  He  fell  on  his  knees,  and  cried, 
— "  O,  God,  save  me  from  this  temptation!"  And  God  did  save  him. 
He  put  the  money  back,  and  closed  the  vault.  Then  he  went  to  the 
president,  and,  with  bitter  cries  and  tears,  confessed  his  fault,  and  offered 
to  resign  his  situation. 

The  president  was  a  wise  and  good  man.  He  said  he  would  keep 
the  secret  to  himself;  and  not  allow  him  to  give  up  his  situation  in  the 
bank.  But  he  told  him  to  seek  every  day  the  help  of  that  God  who 
had  delivered   him   from   this  great  temptation. 

He  went  back  to  his  duties,  feeling  that  he  had  no  streng<"h  in 
himself,  but  firmly  relying  on  the  grace  of  God  to  "deliver  him  from 
evil,"  and  remembering  the  great  truth  — "Thou,  God,  seest  me." 

Let  us  always  remember  this  lesson,  from  the  history  of  St.  Peter, 
about  deliverance  from  temptation. 

The  third  lesson  we  learn  from  this  history  is,  about — overcoming 

PREJUDICE. 

The  word  prejudice  is  made  up  of  two  Latin  words.  One  of  these 
means,  to  judge,  or  to  form  an  opinion,  or  to  make  up  our  minds  on  any 
subject;    and   the   other  means,  beforehand.     And   a  person  who    has  a 


900  THE    LIFE    OF    JESUS    CHRIST. 


prejudice,  is  one  who  has  made  up  his  mind  about  something,  before  he 
understands  it.  When  Nathanael  first  heard  our  Saviour  spoken  of,  as 
"  Jesus  of  Nazareth,"  he  asked :  "  Can  any  good  thing  come  out  of 
Nazareth  ?"  He  had  a  prejudice  against  it.  He  had  made  up  his  mind 
that  nothing  good  could  come  out  of  it,  before  he  really  knew  the  place. 
And  so  the  Jews,  and  the  Samaritans,  had  a  very  great  prejudice  against 
each  other.  The  Jews  thought  it  impossible  that  there  should  be  any 
good  Samaritans;  and  the  Samaritans  thought  it  impossible  that  there 
should  be  any  good  Jews.  But  they  were  both  mistaken.  They  had 
made  up  their  minds  on  this  subject,  before  they  understood  it. 

But  perhaps  there  never  was  a  stronger  prejudice  than  that  which  the 
Jews  had  towards  the  Gentiles.  They  thought  it  was  impossible  for  them 
to  be  saved ;  and  they  would  never  share  any  of  their  religious  privileges 
with  them.  And  as  the  apostle  Peter  was  a  Jew,  he  had  this  strong 
prejudice  against  the  Gentiles.  And  how  strong  this  prejudice  was,  we 
see  from  the  great  trouble  taken  to  overcome  it.  When  God  wished  to 
have  Peter  go  and  preach  the  gospel  to  the  Gentiles,  his  prejudice  against 
them  was  so  strong,  that  three  miracles  had  to  be  performed,  before  that 
prejudice  could  be  overcome,  and  he  be  willing  to  obey  God's  command 
in  this  matter.  We  read  about  this  in  the  tenth  chapter  of  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles. 

Peter  was  at  Joppa,  at  this  time,  staying  at  the  house  of  Simon  the 
tanner,  by  the  sea-side.  Here  he  had  a  vision.  In  the  vision,  he  saw  a 
great  sheet,  fastened  by  the  four  corners,  and  let  down  from  heaven.  In 
this  sheet  were  all  manner  of  four-footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things,  and 
fowls  of  the  air.  As  he  gazed  on  them,  he  heard  a  voice  saying,  "Rise, 
Peter,  slay  and  eat."  But  many  of  these  creatures  were  such  as  the  Jews 
thought  unclean.  So  Peter  declined  to  do  this,  for  he  said  that  "  nothing 
common,  or  unclean,  had  ever  entered  his  mouth."  The  same  voice  told 
him  not  to  call  anything  unclean  that  God  had  cleansed.  This  was  done 
three  times;  and  all  was  taken  up  into  heaven.  Here  was  the  first 
miracle  performed  to  overcome  the  prejudice  of  Peter. 

Just  as  this  vision  ended,  three  men  came  to  the  house  of  Simon, 
inquiring  for  Peter.  They  were  sent  by  Cornelius,  a  Roman  centurion, 
who  lived  at  Cassarea,  on  the  sea-coast,  more  than  a  day's  journey  from 


THE    APOSTLE    PETER. 


901 


Joppa.     Cornelius  was  trying  to  find  out  the  way  of  salvation.     He  had 
prayed  earnestly  to  God  for  direction.     God  had  sent  an  angel  to  tell  him 


■a 

c 
o 


o 


to  send  to  joppa,  and  ask  Simon  Peter  to  come  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
him,  or  to  tell  him  how  he  was  to  be  saved.  This  was  the  second  miracle 
wrought  on  purpose  to  overcome  the  prejudice  of  Peter. 


902  THE   LIFE  OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

And  while  these  men  were  inquiring  for  Peter,  the  Spirit  oi  God 
spoke  to  him,  and  told  him  to  go  with  the  men,  and  do  what  they  wanted 
him  to  do,  because  He  had  sent  them.  This  was  the  third  miracle  that 
took  place  on  this  occasion.  And  thus,  the  strong  prejudice  of  Peter 
was  overcome.  He  went  with  these  men.  He  preached  the  gospel  to  a 
company  of  Gentiles.  And  when  he  saw  the  Holy  Ghost  come  down  on 
them,  in  a  visible  form,  as  it  had  come  down  on  the  apostles,  on  the 
day  of  Pentecost,  he  baptized  them,  and  received  them  into  the  church. 
And  thus  Peter  had  the  honor  of  being  the  first  minister  of  Christ,  who 
preached  the  gospel  to  the  Gentiles.  He  first  opened  the  door  of  the 
Christian  church  to  them.  The  prejudice  of  Peter,  if  it  had  not  been 
overcome,  would  have  prevented  him  from  being  useful  in  this  way. 

And  if  we  wish  to  be  useful,  and  do  the  work  God  has  for  us  to  do, 
we  must  try  to  overcome  our  prejudices. 

A  Lesson  From  a  Pair  of  Shoes. — There  was  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  once,  who  had  a  member  of  his  church,  who  was  a  shoemaker. 
He  was  a  true  Christian,  but  had  very  strong  prejudices.  He  thought  no 
one  could  be  a  Christian,  who  did  not  think,  and  feel,  just  as  he  did. 
This  interfered  with  his  usefulness.  His  minister  had  often  talked  with 
him  on  the  subject,  but  in  vain.  At  last,  he  concluded  to  give  him  a 
lesson  from  his  own  trade,  which  he  would  not  be  likely  to  forget,  and 
which  he  hoped  would  do  him  good.     He  did  it  in  this  way : 

He  sent  for  the  shoemaker  one  day,  and  when  he  came  in,  he  said, 
"I  wish  you  to  take  my  measure  for  a  pair  of  shoes." 

'T  will  do  so  with  pleasure ;  please  take  off  your  boot." 

The  minister  did  so ;  and  the  shoemaker  took  his  measure,  put  down 
the  figures  in  his  note-book,  and  was  going  away,  when  the  minister  said 
to  him,  "  I  want  a  pair  of  boots  also  for  my  son." 

"Very  good,  sir.     Can  I  take  the  young  man's  measure?" 

"That  is  not  necessary,"  said  the  pastor,  "you  can  make  my  boots 
and  his  from  the  same  last." 

"  Please,  your  reverence,  that  will  never  do,"  said  the  shoemaker, 
with  a  smile  of  surprise. 

"  O  yes,  it  will  do  very  well.  Make  my  shoes  and  my  son's  on  the 
same  last." 


THE    APOSTLE  -PETER. 


903 


"That  cannot  be,  your  reverence.  If  a  shoe  is  to  fit,  it  must  be 
made  on  a  last  that  is  just  the  size  of  the  person's  foot,  who  is  to 
wear  it." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  "  said  the  minister.     "  You  say  every  pair  of  shoes  must 


The  family  of  Timothy. 


be  made  on  their  own  last,  or  else  they  will  not  fit.  And  yet  you  think 
that  God  must  make  all  Christians  on  your  last ;  and  if  they  do  not  think 
and  feel,  just  as  you  do,  you  think  they  are  not  true  Christians." 


904  THE    LIFE' OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

"  I  thank  your  reverence  for  this  lesson,"  said  the  shoemaker.  "  I 
will  try  and  remember  it,  and  pray  God  to  help  me  to  overcome  my 
prejudices." 

This  is  a  good  lesson  for  us  all  to  learn. 

T/ie  last  lesson  of  which  we  may  speak,  as  taught  us  by  the  history  of 
this  apostle,  is  about — the  benefit  of  trials. 

When  Jesus  foresaw  the  great  trial  that  wai  coming  on  Peter,  during 
the  night  of  his  betrayal,  he  could  easily  have  saved  him  from  it,  if  he 
had  thought  it  best  and  wisest  to  do  so.  Before  leaving  the  upper 
chamber,  in  Jerusalem,  where  he  kept  the  Passover  for  the  last  time,  with 
his  disciples,  he  could  have  sent  Peter  on  some  errand,  or  could  have 
given  him  something  to  do,  that  would  have  occuoied  him  till  the  next 
day.  Then  he  would  not  have  been  exposed  to  the  temptation  of  deny- 
ing his  Master.  This  could  easily  have  been  done.  But  Jesus  did  not 
do  this.  And  the  reason  was,  he  knew  very  well  that,  though  the  trial 
would  be  very  painful  to  Peter,  and  would  cause  him  to  shed  many  bitter 
and  sorrowful  tears,  yet  it  would  be  useful  to  him  in  the  end,  and  would 
help  to  make  him  a  better  minister  than  he  could  have  been  without  it. 
It  would  show  him  his  own  weakness,  and  teach  him  how  to  sympathize 
with  others  in  their  troubles,  and  to  be  kind,  and  tender  in  his  dealings 
with  them.  And  this  is  what  Jesus  meant  when  he  said  to  Peter,  after 
telling  him  about  this  coming  trial:  "And  when  thou  art  converted, 
strengthen  thy  brethrenr 

And  no  doubt  Peter  had  this  sorrowful  event  in  his  mind,  and  the 
benefit  he  had  derived  from  it,  when,  in  one  of  his  epistles,  he  compares 
the  trials  through  which  God  causes  us  to  pass,  to  the  fire  into  which  the 
jeweler  puts  his  gold,  when  he  desires  to  have  it  purified,  i  Peter  i :  17. 
He  was  a  more  useful  minister  for  having  passed  through  this  trial,  than 
he  ever  could  have  been  without  it.  The  benefit  of  it  followed  him 
through  all  his  life.  And  this  was  the  reason  why  Jesus  did  not  save 
him  from  that  trial,  but  saved  him  in  it. 

And  ifi  the  same  way,  God  intends  to  do  us  good,  by  all  the  trials 
through  which  he  causes  us  to  pass.  It  is  not  for  his  pleasure,  but  for 
our  profit,  that  these  trials  are  allowed  to  come  upon  us ;  and  the  profit 
will  surely  follow,  if,  as  Paul  says,  we  are  rightly  "exercised  thereby." 


THE   APOSTLE    PETER. 


905 


It  would  be  easy  enough  to  give  many  illustrations  of  this  important 
lesson,  but  there  is  only  room  for  one.     We  may  call  it — 


''t"-^.   ffufos- 


The  death  of  Mark. 


The    Marble- Block ;    or,    The    Sculptors    Lesson. —  "  Or\t   of    my 
scholars,"  says  a  Sunday-school    teacher,  "had  a  little  sister  who  was 


9o6  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

lame.  Her  name  was  Annie.  I  often  called  to  see  her,  and  pitied  her, 
as  I  saw  her  sitting  by  the  window,  watching  the  other  children  on  the 
play-ground.  In  addition  to  her  lameness,  she  was  sometimes  so  sick 
that  she  could  not  sit  at  the  window.  One  bright  spring  day,  I  bought 
for  her  some  oranges,  and  candies,  and  a  pretty  picture-book,  and  hoped 
to  comfort  her  with  these.  I  gave  her  the  oranges  and  candies,  and  read 
to  her  from  the  little  book ;  but  still  she  seemed  sad." 

"Why  are  you  so  sad,  to-day,  Annie  dear?"  I  said. 

"Oh,  ma'am,"  she  replied,  "I  don't  see  why  God  should  afflict  me, 
and  yet  let  other  children  be  so  well  and  happy.  But  if  I  only  knew  that 
God  was  not  angry  with  me,  I  shouldn't  care  so  much." 

I  asked  her  to  take  a  little  walk  with  me.  In  the  course  of  our  walk, 
I  took  her  into  the  room  of  a  sculptor,  whom  I  knew.  Here  were  a 
number  of  beautiful  marble  figures,  and  some  blocks  of  rough  marble. 
The  artist  was  at  work  on  one  of  these,  and  Annie  and  I  watched  him 
with  great  interest.  Presently  I  pointed  to  a  great  rough,  dark  block  of 
marble,  that  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  said  :  "  Do  you  like 
that,  Annie  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no,"  she  said,  "why  did  they  bring  such  an  ugly  block  here  ?  " 

"  That  block,"  said  the  artist,  "  I  shall  begin  to  work  upon,  to-morrow. 
Come  in  and  see  it  again." 

The  next  day,  Annie  and  I  went  in  again.  The  artist  spent  most  of 
that  day  in  simply  knocking  off  the  rough  places.  Day  after  day,  we 
watched  him ;  and  every  day  the  block  seemed  to  grow  less  ugly.  The 
sharp  chisel  cut  here,  and  there,  and  everywhere.  As  we  watched  him, 
we  often  thought  if  the  block  was  alive,  and  could  feel,  how  much  it 
would  suffer  from  the  blows  of  that  chisel ! 

After  a  while,  the  artist  sent  us  an  invitation  to  come  to  his  studio. 
I  took  my  little  friend,  and  went.  As  we  entered,  he  said :  "  I  have 
something  to  show  Annie."  Then  he  drew  aside  a  thin,  white  veil,  and 
behold !  there  stood  before  us,  white  as  the  driven  snow,  the  beautiful 
image  of  an  angel,  that  had  been  made  out  of  that  rough  marble  block. 
Annie  shouted  with  joy,  when  she  saw  it. 

"  Now,  Annie,  dear,"  I  said,  "  do  you  think  the  sculptor  hated  that 
rough  block  of  marble  when  he  gave  it  so  many  hard  knocks  ?  " 


THE    APOSTLE    PETER. 


907 


"Oh,  no,"  said  she,  "he  loved  it;    and  every  blow  he  gave  showed 
his  love  for  it. " 


a, 


H 


"And  so,  my  dear  child,"  said  I,  "  does  God  love  us.     And  the  trials 
which  he  sends  on  us,  are  the  proofs  of  his  love.     As  the  sculptor  was 


9o8  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

trying  to  make  this  image  of  an  angel  out  of  the  marble  block,  by  every 
blow  he  gave  it,  so  God,  by  all  the  afflictions  of  this  life,  is  fitting  us  to 
be  like  the  angels  in  his  heavenly  kingdom." 

"  Now,  I  shall  never  feel  sad  on  account  of  my  lameness,"  said 
Annie.  "  To  think  that  this  is  a  proof  of  God's  love,  will  always  make 
me  happy." 

Let  us  remember  these  four  lessons,  when  we  think  of  the  history  of 
the  apostle  Peter.     The  lesson  about  self-confidence — about  deliverance 
from   teiuptation — about  overcoming  prejudice — and  about  ihe  benefit  of 
trials. 

We  may  close  this  subject  with  the  Collect  for  All  Saints'  Day : — 
"O  Almighty  God,  who  hast  knit  together  thine  elect  in  one  communion 
and  fellowship,  in  the  mystical  body  of  thy  Son  Christ,  our  Lord :  grant 
us  grace  so  to  follow  thy  blessed  saints,  in  all  virtuous  and  godly  living, 
that  we  may  come  to  those  unspeakable  joys,  which  thou  hast  prepared 
for  those  who  unfeignedly  love  thee;  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord. 
Amen." 


FROM    THE  C/\R.TO0MS  OF  RAFFAELLE    SAMZIO 


THK  ACTS    OF   THK   APOSTir.KS. 


ST.  JOHN  AND  ST.  PAUL 


Vs 


N  the  original  plan  of  this  work,  it  was  intended  to  have  a 
separate  chapter  for  each  of  these  two  noble  workers  in 
the  cause  of  Christ.  But  room  for  this  fails.  All  that 
can  be  done  is  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  each,  in  this 
closing  chapter. 

We  have  now  to  speak  of  the  apostle  John.     Most 

of  the    pictures    that   have   been    made  of    this   apostle, 

'^       represent  him  as  looking  more  like  a  woman  than  a  man. 

But  we  shall   find   that  there  was  no  authority  for  this, 

when  we  come  to  see  what  his  real  character  was. 

He  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  Bethsaida,  the 
city  of  Andrew  and  Peter.  This  town  was  situated  on 
the  western  shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  or  the  lake  of 
Tiberias,  at  the  upper  part  of  the  lake.  His  father's  name 
was  Zebedee,  and  his  mother's,  Salome.  We  know 
nothing  more  of  Zebedee  than  that  he  was  a  fisherman, 
the  husband  of  Salome,  and  the  father  of  James  and 
John.  Salome,  the  mother  of  John,  we  often  read  of 
afterwards,  as  one  of  those  good  women,  who  followed 
our  Lord,  through  the  diff"erent  scenes  of  his  ministry,  and  were  a 
great  help  and  comfort  to  him.  John  is  supposed  to  have  been  younger 
than  his  brother  James,  who  is  generally  mentioned  first  when  they  are 
spoken  of  together.     They  are  referred  to,  as  "James  and  John,  the  sons 


909 


9IO  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

of  Zebedee."  John  was  probably  the  youngest  of  all  the  apostles.  It  is 
said,  that  he  was  younger  than  our  Saviour  himself,  having  been  born  in 
the  year  four,  anno  Domini,  or  when  Jesus  was  four  years  old. 

The  family  of  this  apostle  is  supposed  to  have  been  better  off,  in 
regard  to  property,  than  any  of  the  other  apostles.  This  is  evident  from 
several  things  mentioned  about  him,  and  his  family.  One  thing  which 
shows  this  is,  that  when  John  and  his  brother  James  were  called  from 
their  business  as  fishermen,  to  follow  Christ,  we  are  told  that  "  they  left 
their  father  Zebedee  in  the  ship  with  the  hired  sei^vanfs."  St.  Mark  i:  20. 
Andrew  and  Peter  were  too  poor  to  have  hired  servants.  They  had  to 
do  all  their  own  work.  But  Zebedee  could  afford  to  hire  help  for  himself 
and  sons.  And  then,  at  the  time  of  our  Saviour's  trial,  the  servants,  who 
kept  the  door  of  the  judgment  hall,  in  which  the  trial  took  place,  allowed 
John  to  enter  the  hall,  because  they  knew  he  was  acquainted  with  the  high 
priest.  St.  John  xviii :  16.  And  then  when  Jesus  left  his  mother  in  the 
chargeof  John,  while  hanging  on  the  cross,  we  are  told,  that  from  that  day, 
"  he  took  her  to  his  own  home."  St.  John  xix:  27.  John  had  a  home  of 
his  own  at  Jerusalem.  From  all  this,  it  seems  clear  that  the  family  of  this 
apostle  were  better  off,  in  worldly  things,  than  were  the  families  of  the 
other  apostles. 

Now  we  may  just  glance  at  whaf  Johns  character  ivas  by  nature,  or 
before  he  was  a  Christian  ;  and  what  if  luas  by  grace,  or  after  he  became  a 
Christian. 

From  what  we  read  of  this  apostle,  in  the  gospel  history,  we  see  that 
there  were  three  things  in  John's  natural  character,  which  show  that  he 
was  not  the  weak,  womanly  sort  of  man  he  is  represented  to  ha\'e  been, 
in  most  of  the  pictures  that  have  been  made  of  him. 

For  one  thing,  it  is  clear  that  John  was  naturally  an  ambitious  man. 
This  is  evident  from  the  request  to  Jesus,  by  John  and  his  brother  James, 
through  their  mother,  that  they  might  have  the  highest  places  in  his 
kingdom.  St.  Math,  xx:  20-23.  Their  mother  made  the  request.  But 
she  probably  consulted  them  about  it  first.  And  if  they  had  not  agreed 
in  it,  she  would  not  be  likely  to  have  done  it.  This  shows  that  they 
were  all  ambitious  together.  And  so  we  are  right  in  saying  that  John 
was    ambitious.       He   wanted    the   best   place    in   Christ's    kingdom    for 


ST.    yOHN   AND    ST.    PAUL. 


911 


himself,  without  thinking  whether  others  might  not   be  better  fitted  for 
it.     Our  Saviour's  reply  shows  that  he  was  wrong  in  giving  way  to  this 


o 


ambitious  feeling.     But  then  this  shows  that  there  was  a  good   deal  of 
strength  in  John's  natural  character.     He  was  ambitious. 


912  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

And  then  he  was  narroiu-ininded,  as  well  as  ambitious  in  his  natural 
character. 

Persons  of  this  character  are  accustomed  to  think  that  all  those  who 
think,  or  feel,  or  act  differently  from  what  they  do,  must  certainly  be 
wrong.  And  this  was  the  way  John  felt,  when  he  first  became  a  disciple 
of  Christ.  He  came  to  Jesus,  one  day,  and  said,  "Master,  we  saw  one 
casting  out  devils,  in  thy  name,  and  we  forbade  him,  because  he  followeth 
not  us."  Jesus  rebuked  him  for  giving  way  to  this  narrow-mindedness, 
or  bigotry,  or  uncharitableness.  It  was  wrong  for  him  to  think  that  no 
one  could  be  doing  good,  or  be  serving  God  acceptably,  unless  it  was 
done  in  just  the  same  way  in  which  he  was  doing  it.  This  was  a  wrong 
feeling  to  have,  but  it  shows  there  was  a  good  deal  of  decision  and 
strength  about  John's  natural  character. 

And  then  another  thing  about  John,  before  he  became  a  Christian, 
was,  that  he  was  an  angry,  or  passionate  man.  As  Jesus  was  going  up 
to  Jerusalem,  on  one  occasion,  in  the  company  of  his  disciples,  they  came 
to  a  Samaritan  village. 

When  the  Samaritans,  in  the  village,  found  that  he  was  going  to 
Jerusalem,  it  stirred  up  all  their  prejudice  against  the  Jews,  and  they 
refused  to  receive  him.  They  would  not  let  him  stop  for  rest,  or  refresh- 
ment. This  made  the  disciples  very  angry,  and  John  and  his  brother 
James  showed  their  anger  by  saying,  "  Lord,  wilt  thou  that  we  call  down 
fire  from  heaven,  to  consume  them,  as  Elias  did  ?  "  St.  Luke  ix  :  51-57. 
But  Jesus  rebuked  them,  and  showed  them  that  this  was  not  the  right 
spirit  for  his  disciples  to  have. 

These  traits  of  John's  natural  character,  although  they  are  not  to  be 
approved  or  admired,  yet  show  that  he  was  a  man  of  a  good  deal  of 
force  of  character,  and  very  different  from  what  his  pictures  represent  him 
to  have  been.  But  when  we  turn  from  considering  what  he  was  by 
nature,  or  before  he  became  a  Christian  ;  and  think  of  what  he  was  by 
grace,  or  after  he  became  a  Christian,  we  see  a  wonderful  change.  The 
apostle  Paul  tells  us,  "that  if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature; 
old  things  have  passed  away,  and  all  things  have  become  new."  And 
it  was  so  with  this  apostle.  When  he  learned  to  know  and  love  Christ, 
the  old  things  about  his  character  passed  away,  and  all  things  became 


ST.    JOHN   AND    ST.    PAUL. 


913 


new.     After  this,  we  see  no  more  of  his  ambition,  of  his  narrow-minded- 
ness, or  of  his  passion. 

The  one  thing  that  marked  his  character  as  a  Christian,  was  love.  He 
seemed  to  get  nearer  to  Jesus  than  any  of  the  other  disciples.  And  it  is 
always  the  case,  that  the  nearer  we  get  to  Jesus,  and  the  more  we  learn 
to  know  him,  the  more  we  shall  love  him.  John's  love  to  Christ  seemed 
to  take  entire  possession  of  him.      It  filled  his  whole  soul.     And  so  we 


The  travels  of  the  apostles. 

think  of  him  as  the  apostle  of  love.  He  is  spoken  of  particularly,  as  "  the 
disciple  whom  Jesus  loved."  It  was  he  who  sat  nearest  to  his  Lord,  and 
leaned  on  his  bosom,  at  the  last  Passover.  Peter  was  great  for  his 
readiness  in  serving  Christ ;  Paul  was  great  for  the  learning  and  the 
labor  with  which  he  served  his  Master;  but  John  was  great  in  the  love 
for  that  Master,  which  ran  through  all  he  did.  And  this  great  love  made 
him  useful  both  ///  his  life,  and  in  his  writings. 


914  THE  LI FE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

It  made  him  useful  in  his  life.  There  is  nothing  that  will  lead  to 
such  earnest  and  devoted  labor,  as  this  principle  of  love.  We  know  but 
little  of  the  life  of  this  loving  apostle  after  the  ascension  of  Christ.  We 
have  no  report  of  his  missionary  journeys,  as  we  have  in  the  case  of  the 
apostles  Peter  and  Paul.  But  we  know  he  was  so  earnest  in  the  cause 
of  his  Master,  that  he  was  sent  a  prisoner  to  the  island  of  Patmos,  to 
stop  his  labors;  but  in  vain.  He  was  willing  to  be  an  exile,  a  prisoner, 
and,  as  some  say,  a  laborer  in  the  mines,  but  he  was  not  willing  to  give 
up  working  for  his  Master.  Tradition  tells  us  that  he  had  to  take  his 
choice  between  stopping  his  work  for  Jesus,  and  being  thrown  into  a 
cauldron  of  boiling  oil.  He  could  not  cease  from  his  work.  He  was 
thrown  into  the  boiling  oil;  but  came  out  uninjured,  and  kept  on  with 
that  work  which  his  love  constrained  him  to  do.  He  lived  the  longest 
of  all  the  apostles,  and  was  the  only  one  of  them  who  died  a  natural 
death.  And  in  the  closing  days  of  his  life,  when  too  feeble  to  do  anything 
else,  w^e  are  told  that  he  used  to  be  carried  into  the  church  at  Ephesus, 
where  his  latest  labors  had  been  performed,  and,  standing  up  in  the  midst 
of  the  congregation,  would  stretch  forth  his  trembling  hands,  and  say, 
"  Little  children,  love  one  another."  What  a  beautiful  close  to  the  life 
of  this  loving  apostle!     Truly  his  love  made  him  useful  in  his  life. 

And  then  it  made  him  useful  in  his  icrifings,  loo.  Think  of  the 
gospel  of  St.  John.  How  different  it  is  from  all  the  others  !  John's  love 
for  Jesus  seemed  to  bring  him  nearer  to  his  great  heart  of  love,  than  the 
rest  of  his  brethren.  We  are  not  surprised,  therefore,  to  see  that  love 
speaking  out  more  clearly,  and  fully  in  his  writings,  than  it  does  any- 
where else.  It  is  only  John  who  gives  us  that  wondrous  statement, 
that  glorious,  golden  epitome  of  the  gospel,  which  is  found  in  the 
sixteenth  verse  of  his  third  chapter — "God  so  loved  the  world  that  he 
gave  his  only  begotten  Son ;  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him,  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life."  And  then  think  of  the  marvelous 
discourses  of  our  Saviour  found  in  the  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  and  sixteenth 
chapters  of  this  gospel ;  and  of  that  most  sublime,  and  wonderful  prayer 
of  Jesus,  for  all  his  people,  found  in  the  seventeenth  chapter.  O,  no 
one  can  tell  what  an  unspeakable  loss  the  church  of  Christ  would  have 
sustained,  if  this  loving  apostle  had  not  written  his  precious  trospel  ! 


1 


ST.    JOHN   AND    ST.   PAUL.  915 

And  then,  how  useful  he  has  been  in  his  epistles,  too,  as  well  as  in 
his  gospel !  Love  is  the  golden  thread  that  runs  through  them  all.  Look 
at  the  opening  words  of  the  third  chapter  of  his  first  epistle.  How  the 
very  heart  of  the  loving  disciple  seems  to  be  speaking  out,  when  he 
exclaims  :  "  Behold,  what  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon 
us,  that  we  should  be  called  the  sons  of  God!"  It  is  remarkable  that  the 
two  shortest  verses  in  the  whole  Bible,  and  yet  two  among  those  that  most 
melt,  and  stir  our  hearts,  were  written  by  this  apostle.  One  of  these  is 
in  his  gospel,  and  contains  only  two  words — "  yesus  wcptr  The  other  is 
in  one  of  his  epistles,  and  contains  only  three  words — "  God  is  lover  If 
he  had  never  written  anything  else  than  these  two  verses,  how  well  it 
might  be  said  that  he  was  useful  in  his  writings ! 

And  then,  think  of  that  marvelous  book,  with  which  the  Bible  closes. 
We  call  it  "  The  Revelation  of  St.  John  the  Divine."  For,  although  it  is 
true  that  there  is  much  in  this  book  that  we  cannot  understand,  yet  its 
opening  and  closing  chapters  have  been  an  unspeakable  blessing  to  the 
church  in  all  ages.  When  St.  John  closes  the  Bible  with  those  last  two 
chapters  of  the  Revelation,  it  seems  as  if  he  had  been  permitted  to  leave 
the  gates  of  heaven  ajar,  on  purpose  that  we  might  gaze  through  them  in 
wondering  awe.  Those  jeweled  walls;  those  pearly  gates;  those  golden 
streets ;  that  river  of  the  water  of  life,  clear  as  crystal ;  and  all  the 
sparkling  imagery  employed  by  this  loving  apostle,  in  what  he  here 
tells  us  about  heaven,  how  can  we  sufficiently  thank  God,  for  per- 
mitting his  servant  John  to  write  such  glorious  things  for  us  ?  Truly 
we  may  say  that  his  love  made  him  useful  in  his  life,  and  useful  in  his 
writings  ! 

I  know  not  how  better  to  close  this  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  St. 
John  the  Evangelist,  than  by  quoting  here  the  words  of  that  beautiful 
Collect  which  our  church  uses  on  the  day  with  which  his  memory  is 
connected : 

"  Merciful  Lord,  we  beseech  thee  to  cast  thy  bright  beams  of  light 
upon  thy  church,  that  it,  being  instructed  by  the  doctrine  of  thy  blessed 
Apostle,  and  Evangelist,  St.  John,  may  so  walk  in  the  light  of  thy  truth, 
that  it  may  at  length  attain  to  everlasting  life,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.     Amen." 


91 6  THE    LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

"  Praise,  for  the  loved  disciple,  exile  on  Patmos'  shore ; 
Praise  for  the  faithful  record  he  to  thy  Godhead  bore ; 
Praise  for  the  mystic  vision,  through  him  to  us  revealed ; 
May  we,  in  patience  waiting,  with  thine  elect  be  sealed." 

THE    APOSTLE    PAUL. 

It  would  require  a  large  volume  to  consider  fully  and  properly  the 
character  and  work  of  this  apostle.  We  have  only  space  to  take  a  hasty 
glance  at  the  subject.  But  even  this,  it  is  hoped,  may  prove  useful  to 
those  who  read  it. 

St.  Paul  spoke  of  himself  as  "  the  least  of  all  the  apostles."  i  Cor. 
XV :  9.  It  was  natural  and  proper  enough  for  him  to  think  lowly  of 
himself  But  he  stands  alone  in  this  opinion.  Nobody  agrees  with  him 
here.  We  all  love  to  think  and  speak  of  him  as — "  the  grcaf  apostle  of 
the  Gentiles."  When  first  converted,  he  began  his  ministry  by  preaching 
to  his  own  countrymen,  the  Jews.  But  finding  their  prejudices  against 
"Jesus  of  Nazareth,"  were  so  strong  that  they  would  not  listen  to  him,  he 
changed  his  course,  and  turned  to  the  Gentiles.  And  well  he  may  be 
called — "  the  great  apostle."  He  was  great  in  every  view  we  can  take  of 
him.  Let  us  notice  now,  as  briefly  as  we  can,  some  of  the  elements  of 
greatness  about  this  apostle. 

In  the  first  place,  he  \n2&  great  in  the  natitml  talents,  that  it  pleased 
God  to  give  him  He  had  a  stronger,  clearer  mind  than  any  of  the 
apostles.  He  could  take  hold  of  the  greatest  subjects  brought  before 
him,  and  handle  them,  and  master  them,  with  wonderful  power.  He  had 
great  reasoning  powers.  He  could  argue  and  reason  about  anything,  in 
the  grandest  way.  And  then  he  had  great  powers  as  a  speaker.  He  was 
marvellously  eloquent.  See  what  an  illustration  we  have  of  this  in  his 
famous  speech  on  the  top  of  Mar's  hill,  in  the  city  of  Athens,  as  wc 
read  it  in  Acts  xvii :  16-32.  We  have  another  illustration  of  this  in 
his  speech  before  Agrippa,  in  •  Acts,  twenty-sixth  chapter.  I  would 
gladly  give  anything  I  have  in  the  world,  to  have  enjoyed  the  privilege  of 
hearing  Paul  deliver  that  speech.  When  Agrippa  interrupted  him,  by 
saying,  "Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Christian  ;  "  only  think  how 
touching  it  must  have  been  to  see  Paul  lift  up  his  chained  hands  towards 
heaven,  and  say,  with  the  tenderest  feeling — "  I  would  to  God,  that  not 


ST.    JOHN   AND    ST.    PAUL. 


917 


only  thou,  but  also  all  that  hear  me  this  day,  were  both  almost,  and  alto- 
gether such  as  I  am  ;  except  these  bonds !  " 


Paul  at  Ephesus. 


He  was  great  in  his  early  opportunities.      He  was   born    at    Tarsus, 
and  had  a  better  education  than  any  of  the  apostles.       His  family  were 


9i8  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

well  off.  It  is  no  argument  against  this,  to  say  that  he  was  a  tent-maker 
by  trade.  For  it  was  customary  among  the  Jews,  even  with  the  richest 
families,  to  teach  their  sons  some  useful  trade.  Paul  went  through  the 
best  schools  that  were  to  be  ha'd  then.  He  had  studied  all  about  history, 
and  philosophy,  and  poetry.  And  he  was  learned  also  in  all  matters 
concerning  the  religion  of  the  Jews.  He  tells  us  himself,  that  he  was 
"brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel" — who  was,  at  that  time,  the  most 
famous  of  all  their  teachers. 

He  was  great  in  his  prejudices.  He  was  a  real  Jew  in  this  respect. 
They  all  had  very  strong  prejudices  against  people  who  differed  from 
them  in  their  religion.  But  Paul  was  stronger  in  his  prejudices  than  even 
his  countrymen  were.  We  see  this  in  the  first  mention  that  is  made  of 
him  in  the  New  Testament.  This  was  at  the  death  of  the  first  martyr, 
St.  Stephen.  The  wicked  men  who  stoned  him,  we  are  told,  "  laid  down 
their  clothes  at  the  feet  of  a  young  man  whose  name  was  Saul."  And 
then  we  see  the  strength  of  his  prejudice  in  the  fierceness  of  the  persecu- 
tion which  he  carried  on  against  the  followers  of  Jesus.  He  "breathed 
out  threatenings  and  slaughter"  against  them.  He  was  "exceeding 
mad  against  them."  Not  content  with  imprisoning,  and  putting  to  death 
those  who  lived  in  Jerusalem,  he  "  persecuted  them  even  unto  strange 
cities."  Furnished  with  letters  from  the  chief  priests,  he  went  as  far  as 
Damascus,  that  he  might  seize,  and  bring  bound  to  Jerusalem,  any  of  the 
followers  of  Jesus  found  there.  How  unlikely  it  seemed  that  one  who 
was  so  very  strong  in  his  prejudices,  should  ever,  himself,  become  a 
follower,  and  an  apostle  of  Jesus! 

But  he  was  great  in  his  conversion.  It  was  impossible  for  him  to  be 
converted  as  other  men  were.  It  is  hearing  about  Jesus  which  leads  to 
the  conversion  of  men.  But  Paul  would  not  listen  to  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel.  He  would  allow  no  one  to  speak  to  him  about  Jesus  of 
Nazareth.  He  believed  that  he  was  a  wicked  impostor,  and  he  hated  him 
most  bitterly.  And  so  it  pleased  God  to  work  a  miracle  for  his  conver- 
sion. He  had  gone  on  his  journey,  till  he  had  nearly  reached  Damascus, 
when  a  marvelous  scene  occurred.  Suddenly  the  heavens  seemed  to  open 
above  him.  A  light  shone  around  him,  above  the  brightness  of  the  sun. 
A  strange  voice  was  heard  speaking  to  him.     It  came  from  heaven.     The 


ST.    JOHN   AND    ST.    PAUL. 


919 


words  it  spoke  were — "Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me! "     He  gave 
one  look  at  the  opening  heavens,  and  then  fell,  overpowered  to  the  earth. 


< 


"  Who  art  thou,  Lord  !"  was  his  astonished   inquiry.      And  the  answer, 
more    astonishing   still,  was — "  I    am     ^esus  whom    thou    persecutest ! " 


920  THE   LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 

What  a  revelation  that  was  to  him!  How  overwhelming  was  his  amaze- 
ment! No  wonder  that  he  was  converted  by  that  vision.  It  was  indeed 
a  great  conversion.  He  was  baptized  by  Ananias,  at  Damascus,  and 
began  at  once  to  preach  that  gospel  which  he  had  gone  there  hoping  to 
destroy.  Such  was  the  commencement  of  Paul's  life  as  a  Christian,  and 
his  labors  as  an  apostle.     Everything  about  it  was  great. 

And  then  he  was  great  in  his  privileges.  He  saw  the  risen,  and 
ascended  Lord  amidst  the  glories  of  the  heavenly  world.  What  a 
privilege  this  was  1  It  was  a  privilege  which  none  of  the  other  apostles 
enjoyed  except  St.  John.  We  have  an  account  of  his  vision  of  the 
glorious  Saviour,  in  the  first  chapter  of  the  Revelation,  verses  10-20. 
And  then  afterwards,  St.  Paul  was  taken  up  into  the  third  heavens,  or  into 
Paradise,  and  saw,  and  heard  things  of  which  it  is  not  lawful,  or  possible 
to  speak.  He  had  broader,  and  fuller,  and  clearer  views  of  the  great 
doctrines  of  our  holy  religion,  than  any  of  the  apostles.  And  this  is  one 
of  the  greatest  privileges  we  can  have  in  this  world.  We  see  the  proof 
of  Paul's  privileges  in  this  respect,  in  all  the  blessed  teachings  he  has 
given  us,  in  his  epistles,  about  Christ  and  his  salvation. 

Yi^\s2iS  great  ill  his  labors.  When  he  found  out  the  great  mistake 
he  had  made  respecting  Christ,  and  learned  to  know  and  love  him  as  the 
one,  only  glorious  Saviour  of  lost  sinners,  the  love  for  Christ  kindled  in 
his  soul  by  this  discovery,  constrained  him  to  give  himself  a  living 
sacrifice  to  him.  And  the  burning  zeal  with  which  he  began  to  work  for 
his  Saviour,  never  grew  cold.  The  apostles  were  all  earnest  in  their 
labors  for  Jesus ;  but  Paul  was  the  most  earnest,  and  the  most  untiring 
of  them  all.  In  his  case,  it  was  indeed  true,  that  the  last  became  first.  No 
one  city,  or  country  was  large  enough  to  be  the  field  of  his  labors.  He 
went  from  city  to  city,  and  from  country  to  country,  till  he  had  gone  all 
over  the  world  as  it  was  then  known.  And  when  he  had  gone  all  over 
the  earth  once,  preaching  the  gospel,  he  was  not  satisfied.  When  one 
missionary  journey  was  ended,  he  began  another;  and  then  another;  and 
so  on,  to  the  end  of  his  days.  Then  he  sealed  his  life's  labors  with  his 
blood,  and  died  a  martyr's  death,  at  Rome,  by  order  of  the  cruel  emperor 
Nero.  The  tradition  is  that  he  was  beheaded,  outside  of  the  walls  of  that 
great  city.     And  on  the  spot  which  is  said  to  be   the   place  of  his  death, 


ST.   JOHN   AND    ST.   PAUL.  921 


there  stands  a  beautiful  church,  called  after  him,  and  which  is  a  monu- 
ment to  his  memory. 

How  well  it  may  be  said  of  him,  that  he  was  great  in  his  labors. 
And  yet  the  Saviour,  whom  he  served  so  faithfully,  had  done  nothing  for 
him,  which  he  has  not  done  for  you  and  me.  He  bore  the  same  cross, 
and  shed  the  same  precious  blood  for  us,  that  he  did  for  Paul.  Then,  in 
our  labors  for  Jesus,  let  us  try  to  follow  Paul,  as  he  followed  Christ.  If 
we  try  to  catch  Paul's  spirit,  whoever  we  are,  or  wherever  we  may  be,  we 
shall  find  it  easy  and  pleasant  to  work  for  our  blessed  Master.  Here  is 
an  illustration  of  what  I  mean.     We  may  call  it — 

Paul's  Spirit  in  a  Child. — A  little  girl  had  great  dislike  for  sewing- 
She  had  commenced  making  a  bed-quilt,  but  was  not  likely  to  finish  it 
soon.  One  day  she  came  home  from  Sabbath-school.  They  had  been 
having  a  missionary-meeting  there,  and  she  was  full  of  zeal  in  the  mis- 
sionary cause.  "  Mamma,"  she  asked,  "can't  I  do  some  work  to  earn 
money  for  our  missionary  box?" 

"Well,  Lizzie,  darling,"  said  her  mother,  "if  you  will  finish  one 
block  for  the  quilt,  every  other  day,  I  will  gladly  pay  you  for  it,  and  you 
can  give  this,  as  your  own  offering  to  the  missionary  cause." 

Poor  Lizzie's  face  grew  sad,  on  hearing  this ;  for  she  disliked  this 
kind  of  work  very  much.  It  seem.ed  as  if  her  missionary  spirit  was  likely 
to  die  out  at  once.  But,  after  thinking  over  it  a  little  while,  her  face 
brightened  up,  and  she  said,  "  Well,  mamma,  I'll  piece  blocks,  or  do 
anything  else  you  wish  me  to  do,  for  Jesus'  sake,  amen."  That  quilt  was 
soon  finished,  and  there  is  now  an  earnest,  active  little  worker  for  missions 
in  that  home.  This  was  Paul's  spirit  in  a  child.  And  if  we  get  that 
spirit,  it  will  make  us  all,  like  Paul,  great  in  our  labors  for  Christ. 

But  Paul  was  great  in  his  sufferings,  too,  as  well  as  in  his  labors. 

Before  he  became  a  Christian,  he  had  the  prospect  of  rising  to  a 
position  of  great  honor,  and  great  profit,  in  connection  with  the  Jewish 
church.  But  he  gave  this  all  up  at  the  time  of  his  conversion.  He  tells 
us  that,  "  what  things  were  gain  to  me,  those  I  counted  loss  for  Christ. 
Yea,  doubtless,  I  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus,  my  Lord."  Phil,  iii :  6,  7.  There  is  some- 
thing very  touching  in  the  record  which  this  great  apostle  has  left  us  of 


922  THE   LIFE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

his  sufferings  for  Christ.  He  speaks  of  himself  as  having  been — "  In 
labors  more  abundant,  in  stripes  above  measure,  in  prisons  more  frequent, 
in  deaths  oft.  Of  the  Jews  five  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save  one. 
Thrice  I  was  beaten  with  rods,  once  was  I  stoned,  thrice  I  suffered  ship- 
wreck, a  night  and  a  day  I  have  been  in  the  deep.  In  journeyings  often, 
in  perils  of  water,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  by  mine  own  countrymen, 
in  perils  by  the  heathen,  in  perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness, 
in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  among  false  brethren.  In  weariness,  and 
painfulness,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings  often,  in 
cold  and  nakedness."  2  Corinthians  xi :  23-28.  What  a  marvelous 
record  of  sufferings  we  have  here!  There  is  perhaps  nothing  like  it  to 
be  found  in  the  whole  history  of  the  church  of  Christ.  And  yet  the 
apostle  never  had  a  word  of  complaint  to  make.  The  spirit  in  which  he 
bore  his  sufferings  for  Christ,  is  beautifully  illustrated  in  the  glimpse  we 
have  of  him  in  the  prison  at  Philippi.  His  back  had  been  torn  with  cruel 
scourges.  His  feet  were  made  fast  in  the  stocks.  We  might  have 
expected  that  he  would  spend  that  night  in  sighing  and  crying.  But, 
instead  of  this,  we  read  that — "  At  midnight,  Paul  and  Silas," — his  com- 
panion in  labor  and  suffering — "prayed,  and  sang  praises  to  God."  Acts 
xvi :  25.  Surely  this  should  make  us  ashamed  of  complaining  on  account 
of  any  trifling  suffering  we  may  have  to  bear  in  the  cause  of  our  great 
Master.  And  Paul  had  no  relief  from  these  sufferings  He  went  on 
bearing  them  cheerfully  to  the  very  close  of  his  life.  How  was  he  able 
to  do  this?  There  is  only  one  answer  to  give  to  this  question.  It  was 
his  love  for  Jesus,  that  made  him  so  willing  to  labor,  and  to  suffer  for  him 
And  if  we  love  Jesus,  we  should  be  willing  to  suffer  for  him,  too. 

Here  is  a  striking  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  real  love  will  make 
one  willing  to  suffer  even  for  a  friend,  or  fellow-creature.  We  may 
call  it— 

Love  TriuinpJiing  over  Suffering. — Some  years  ago,  a  fine  church 
was  built  in  one  of  the  towns  in  Belgium.  It  was  all  finished  at  last, 
except  the  fastening  of  the  weather-vane  on  the  top  of  the  steeple.  The 
scaffolding  was  not  high  enough  to  reach  it.  There  was  no  way  in  which 
the  work  could  be  done,  but  for  one  workman  to  stand  on  the  highest 
part  of  the  scaffolding,  and  let  the  other  workman  stand  on  his  shoulders, 


ST.    JOHN   AND    ST.    PAUL. 


9^3 


while  he  put  the  vane  on  the  steeple,  and  soldered  it  in  its  place.  A 
brave-hearted,  broad-shouldered  workman  agreed  to  stand  there  for  this 
purpose.       He  took  his  position,  holding  on   to  a  piece   of  scaffolding. 


a 


His  companion  climbed  up,  and  stood  on  his  shoulders.  The  vane  and 
the  vessel  of  melted  lead  were  handed  up  to  him.  It  was  a  perilous 
thing  to  do.     A  crowd  of  spectators  below  watched  the  operation,  almost 


924  THE   LIFE  OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 


breathless  with  anxiety.  The  moments  seem  like  hours,  as  the  work 
goes  on.  At  last  it  is  done.  The  men  come  down  amidst  the  shouts  of 
the  multitude.  But,  when  the  brave  man,  who  had  borne  his  friend  on  his 
shoulders,  reached  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  he  fell  exhausted  to  the  earth, 
and  had  to  be  carried  home.  Then  it  was  found  that  the  poor  fellow's 
back  was  in  a  dreadful  state.  While  the  man  was  doing  his  work  on  the 
vane,  some  of  the  melted  lead  had  dropped  down  on  the  friend  who  was 
supporting  him.  But  he  stood  bravely  still.  He  would  not  move  an 
inch,  for  that  would  have  caused  the  death  of  his  companion.  Here  was 
love  triumphing  over  suffering.  And  if  that  brave  man  was  willing  to 
bear  all  this  for  his  earthly  friend,  what  should  we  not  be  willing  to  bear 
for  Christ,  "  the  friend  who  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother  ?" 

In  the  next  place,  the  Apostle  Paul  was  great  in  his  influence.  Sup- 
pose we  could  have  a  history  written  of  all  the  persons  who  were  con- 
verted by  the  preaching  of  this  apostle  during  his  life;  and  then  of  all 
who  were  converted  by  them,  and  so  on,  from  one  generation  to  another, 
down  to  our  own  times,  what  a  wonderfully  interesting  history  that  would 
be !  Or  suppose  we  could  trace  out,  in  the  same  way,  all  the  good  that 
has  been  done  by  the  writings  of  this  apostle  ;  the  persons  who  have  been 
brought  to  Jesus  by  reading  the  truths  found  in  those  writings,  or  who 
have  been  instructed,  or  guided,  or  comforted,  encouraged,  and  helped  by 
the  same — how  surprising  it  would  be  !  Then  we  should  see,  indeed,  how 
great  his  influence  has  been  ! 

There  are  twenty-one  epistles  in  the  New  Testament.  Of  these  the 
apostle  Paul  wrote  fourteen.  They  form  a  large  part  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Now,  suppose  we  could  take  these  epistles  of  St.  Paul,  chapter  by 
chapter,  and  follow  every  verse  in  each  chapter,  as  it  has  gone  round  the 
world,  from  age  to  age,  and  find  out  every  case  where  good  has  been  done 
to  any  soul,  what  a  history  we  should  have !  No  one  could  write  such  a 
history  now.  But  I  suppose  we  shall  have  such  a  history  set  before  us 
when  we  get  to  heaven.  Then,  we  shall  understand  better  than  we  can 
do  now,  how  great  the  apostle  Paul  was,  in  the  influence  for  good  which 
he  exerted.  But,  though  none  of  us  can  be  compared,  at  all,  with  this 
great  man,  yet,  if  we  are  trying,  like  him,  to  love  and  serve  the  blessed 
Saviour,  we  may  all,  even  to  the  youngest,  be  exerting  influences  for  good 


ST.    JOHN   AND    ST.    PAUL. 


925 


that  will  last  forever.     Here  is  an  illustration  of  what  I  mean.     We  may 
call  it— 


■r. 


I     H 


A  Chihfs  Influence  for  Gt?^^'.— Bessie  was  a  sweet  little  girl  \\ho  was 
trying  to  love  the  Saviour.  The  nursery,  in  which  she  slept,  was  on  the 
first  floor  of  the  house,  adjoining  the   street.     It  was  summer  time  when 


926  THE  LI FE    OF  JESUS   CHRIST. 

the  incident  here  referred  to  took  place.  Her  mother  was  sitting  near  the 
open  window, rone  evening,  when  Bessie  knelt  down  by  her  side  to  say 
her  evening  prayer.  She  first  repeated,  after  her  mother,  the  words  that 
she  taught  her  to  use  in  prayer.  After  this  she  was  in  the  habit  of  offer- 
ing up  little  prayers  of  her  own,  for  anything  she  wished  to  ask  from  her 
Father  in  heaven.  She  did  so  on  this  occasion ;  and  these  were  the  last 
words  she  had  to  offer :  "  God  help  everybody  to  love  Jesus.  Amen." 
While  Bessie  was  saying  her  prayers  that  evening  her  mother  heard  the 
steps  of  some  one  passing.  He  lingered  a  moment  under  the  window 
and  listened  to  the  words  of  the  dear  child.  It  happened  that  this  was  a 
neighbor  of  theirs,  an  infidel,  whose  name  was  Jones.  The  closing  words 
of  Bessie's  prayer  made  a  deep  impression  on  his  mind.  After  this  he 
manifested  the  greatest  interest  in  her,  though  he  always  said  that  what 
she  prayed  for  never  could  take  place ;  for  he  was  certain  that  lie,  for  one, 
never  could  be  a  Christian. 

Not  long  after  this  Mr.  Jones  was  taken  sick.  He  had  a  long  and 
severe  spell  of  illness.  As  he  was  living  in  a  boarding  house,  and  had  no 
family  of  his  own,  Bessie's  mother  used  to  send  the  dear  child  in  every 
day  to  inquire  how  he  was,  and  to  take  him  little  things  that  he  might 
need.  He  would  allow  no  one  to  speak  to  him  on  the  subject  of  religion; 
but  Bessie's  father  and  mother  hoped  that  her  gentle  ways,  and  simple 
loving  words  might  do  him  good. 

A  week  or  two  had  passed  away,  and  one  night,  as  Bessie's  mother 
was  putting  her  to  bed — she  said,  "Mamma,  Mr.  Jones  loves  Jesus  now." 

A  few  days  after  this  they  heard  that  their  sick  neighbor  was  near  his 
end.  Taking  her  little  one  by  the  hand,  the  kind  mother  went  in  to  see 
him.  They  found  that  he  was  dying.  As  Bessie  sat  on  her  mother's  lap, 
by  the  side  of  his  bed,  the  sick  man  died;  but  just  before  his  spirit  passed 
away,  these  were  the  last  words  heard  from  his  lips:  "God,  help  every- 
body to  love  Jesus — everybody." 

And  so  dear  Bessie's  words  were  the  means  which  God  employed  to 
save  a  soul  from  death.  And  if  a  little  child  can  exert  such  an  influence 
as  this,  then  we  see  how,  by  loving  and  serving  Jesus,  we  may  all  make 
ourselves  useful.  We  may  so  live  that  every  act  and  word  may  be  a  good 
seed  sown,  that  will  yield  fruit  unto  everlasting  life. 


"  Not  ourselves,  but  the  truths  that  in  life 
we  have  spoken, 
Not  ourselves,  but   the    seed  that    in 
life  we  have  sown, 
May  pass  on  for  ages — all  about  us  for- 
gotten, 
Save  the  truth  we    have    spoken,  the 
things  we  have  done. 


So  let  our  living  be — so  be  our  dying; 
So  let  our  names  lie,  unblazoned,  un- 
known ; 
Unpraised,  and    unmissed,  we    shall  yet 
be  remembered ; 
But    only   remembered    by  what   we 
have  done." 


928  THE    LIFE    OF   JESUS    CHRIST. 


The  apostle  Paul  was  great  in  his  influence. 

And  then,  as  the  only  other  point  to  speak  of,  he  was  great  in  his 

reward. 

This  is  true  of  all  God's  people  who  serve  him  faithfully.  David, 
when  speaking  of  God's  words,  or  commandments,  tells  us  that,  "  in  keep- 
ing of  them  there  is  great  reward^  Ps.  xix :  1 1 .  When  St.  Paul  had 
reached  the  close  of  his  life,  he  paused  to  look  back  upon  the  past,  and 
then  forward  to  the  future ;  and  as  he  did  so,  these  are  the  words  that  he 
used :  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at 
hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept 
the  faith  ;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness, 
which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  will  give  me  at  that  day;  and  not  to 
me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also  that  love  his  appearing."  2  Tim.  iv :  6-9. 
We  learn  from  this  passage  that  there  is  a  crown  in  heaven,  prepared  for 
every  follower  of  Jesus.  These  crowns  are  procured,  or  purchased  by 
what  Jesus  did,  and  suffered  for  us.  But  they  will  be  very  different 
in  the  number,  and  character  of  the  jewels  that  are  to  sparkle  in  them. 
And  how  many  jewels,  and  what  kind  of  jewels  your  crown,  or  my  crown 
will  have,  must  depend  upon  how  much  we  do  for  Jesus.  I  suppose  the 
apostle  Paul  will  have  the  most  beautiful  crown  that  any  of  the  servants 
of  Jesus  will  wear.  He  was  greater  in  his  labors,  in  his  sufferings,  and  in 
his  influence  for  good  than  others — and  his  reward  will  be  greater.  He 
will  have  more  jewels  in  his  crown  than  will  be  found  in  any  other;  and 
they  will  sparkle  with  more  brightness  and  beauty.  But  none  will  envy 
him.  We  shall  all  feel  that  he  is  worthy  of  it,  and  we  shall  rejoice  to  see 
him  wear  it. 

But  let  us  remember  that  every  work  we  do  for  Jesus,  and  every  sac- 
rifice we  make  for  him,  will  put  another  jewel  in  our  crown.  Then  let  us 
try  to  serve  him  faithfully,  with  all  our  hearts,  and  we  may  be  sure  that  we 
shall  receive  a  great  reward.  I  close  with  just  one  little  incident,  to  show 
how  we  may  add  jewels  to  our  crowns.     We  may  call  it — 

A  Star  in  the  Crown.  — A.  young  lady  was  standing  before  a  large 
mirror,  preparing  to  go  to  a  ball.  She  had  just  placed  a  light  crown  on 
her  head,  ornamented  with  silver  stars.  While  she  stood  there,  looking 
at  herself  in  the  glass,  her  little  sister,  about  five  years  old,  climbed  upon 


ST     JOHN   AND    ST.   PAUL. 


929 


Martyrdom  of  St.  Paul. 


a  chair,  and  putting  out  her  tiny  fingers,  tried  to  touch  the  beautiful  crown. 
"What  are  you  doing,  Nellie,  darling?  You  mustn't  touch  my  crown," 
said  her  sister. 


930  THE    LIFE    OF  JESUS    CHRIST. 

"  I  was  looking  at  that,  and  thinking  of  something  else,"  was  the  little 
one's  reply. 

"  Pray  tell  me,  Nellie,  what  you  were  thinking  about  ?" 

"  I  was  remembering  what  my  teacher  said  last  Sunday.  She  told 
us  that  if  we  brought  sinners  to  Jesus  by  our  influence,  we  should  win 
stars  for  our  crown  in  heaven ;  and  when  I  saw  those  stars  in  your  crown, 
I  wished  I  could  save  some  soul." 

These  simple  words  that  Nellie  spoke,  took  a  strong  hold  of  her  sis- 
ter's feelings.  She  went  to  the  ball  that  night,  but  felt  little  interest  in  it. 
She  had  no  heart  for  the  music  or  the  dancing,  and  was  truly  glad  when 
all  was  over. 

On  reaching  home  she  went  to  Nellie's  room.  There  she  lay,  sleep- 
ing sweetly.  She  stooped  and  kissed  her  loving  lips ;  and  then,  kneeling 
down  by  the  side  of  her  bed,  she  asked  God  to  forgive  her  for  the  giddy, 
careless  life  she  had  been  living.  She  gave  herself  to  Jesus  then,  and 
there,  and  prayed  for  grace  to  live  henceforth  for  him  and  for  heaven. 

Then  she  kissed  Nellie  again,  and  said,  "  Precious  darling,  you  have 
won  one  star  for  your  crown !"  God  help  us  all  to  win  many  stars  for 
our  crowns ! 

Thus  we  have  taken  a  hasty  view  of  this  great  apostle.  We  have 
seen  that  he  was  great  in  his  natural  talents  ;  great  in  his  opportunities ; 
great  in  his  prejudices ;  great  in  his  conversion ;  great  in  his  privileges ; 
great  in  his  labors ;  great  in  his  sufferings ;  great  in  his  influence ;  and 
great  in  his  reward. 

And  now  this  work  is  done.  I  thank  God,  with  all  my  heart,  for  per- 
mitting me  to  engage  in  it,  and  for  helping  me  to  get  through  with  it.  It 
humbles  me  in  the  dust  to  think  ho\v  utterly  unworthy  it  is  of  the  glori- 
ous Saviour,  to  whom  it  refers.  But  I  know  he  is  pleased  to  work  by 
feeble  means.  He  puts  the  treasure  of  the  gospel  in  earthen  vessels,  on 
purpose  that  "  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God,  and  not  of  us." 
My  earnest  prayer  is  that  he  will  graciously  accept  i"t  as  a  tribute  of  grate- 
ful love,  from  one  of  the  least,  and  most  unworthy  of  his  followers ;  that 
he  will  pardon  all  the  mistakes  and  imperfections  connected  with  it,  and 
bless  it,  notwithstanding,  and  make  it  useful.  And  if  it  shall  prove  help- 
ful to  Christian  parents  and  teachers  in  training  their  children  for  Jesus  ; 


ST.    JOHN   AND    ST.    PAUL. 


931 


and  if  the  young  who  read  these  pages  shall  find  anything  here  to  aid  and 
encourage  them  in  trying  to  know,  and  love,  and  serve  the  blessed  Sa- 
viour, I  shall  feel  that  the  time  and  labor  spent  upon  this  work  have  not 
been  in  vain.     Amen  1 


HE  SHALL   GIVE  HIS  ANGELS   CHARGE   CONCERNING  THEE 


ANALYTICAL    INDEX 


OF 


Facts,  Lessons  and  Illustrative  Incidents. 


PAGE. 

ACORN,  The 631 

Adam  and  Eve, i 

Adam  and  Eve, 342 

A  just  God  and  Saviour, 347 

All  for  the  best, 215 

Androcles  and  the  hon 550 

Angel  in  the  stone, 640 

Angelo,  Michael, 8S1 

Antidote,  The 47S 

Apostles  Chosen,         ........  403 

"       The  Men 486 

"      The  Work 492 

"      The  Help, 496 

"      The  Lesson, 502 

Ark,  Noah's, 27 

■'      Sizsof 28 

'*      Occupants  of,        .......  33 

"       ]esus  the  true,       .......  34 

"      Supplies  of, 33 

"      Safety  of, 4° 

"       Tlie  blessings,  and  how  secured, ....  43 

Ascension,  The,          ........  847 

Time  of, 847 

■'           Place  of, 849 

"           Manner  of,        ......         •  851 

"  Lesson  from  : — Obedience  to  the  Command  of 

Christ 855 

Ashamed  to  tell  mother 787 

Assyrian  call  to  prayer,       .......  5°4 

Augustine,  Saint 6°9 

Aunt  Lucy 492 

Awakened  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  .....  251 

BAPTISM  of  Christ 44° 

'■         a  very  Strange 444 

''         ?  very  Wonderful,          .....  445 

"  a  very  Instructive,  .....  448 
"         Instructive,  Because  it  teaches  us  to  think  of 

Tesus  as  the  Pleasing  Son,  .  .  .  448 
"         Instructive,  Because  it  leads  us  to  think  of 

Jesus  as  the  Gentle  Dove,  .  .  .  452 
"         Instructive,  Because  it  leads  us  to  think  of 

Jesus  as  the  Atoning  Lamb,  .         .         .  456 


PAGE. 

Baptized  pocket-book,         ....... 

403 

"Be," 

536 

Beetle  an  object  of  worship  and  interest 

117 

Being  loved  back  again. 

628 

Believing  saves 

358 

Best  time  for  doing  this 

642 

Bickersteth,  Rev.  Mr., 

643 

Birth  of  Christ, 

319 

'*             Time  of,       . 

320 

"             Place  of,      . 

327 

"             Bethlehem, 

329 

Circumstances  of. 

334 

"                         "                 Strange  Neglect, 

334 

"                Strange  Attention,     . 

334 

"                          ''                  Strange  Poverty, 

337 

"                         "                 Strange  Wealth, 

337 

"                         "                 Strange  Humiliation, 

338 

"                 Strange  Glory, . 

338 

"             Lessons  taught  by,       .... 

339 

Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,      ..... 

413 

Blesses  (Jesus)  By  giving  riches  to  the  poor, 

54 

'■              By  giving  comfort  to  the  sorrowing,  . 

59 

"              By  giving  liberty  to  the  captives, 

65 

"               By  giving  sight  to  the  blind. 

.       69 

Blessing  of  guidance,          .... 

133 

Blessing  of  the  world,  Christ  the. 

32 

Blessings  allowed  to  Jesus, 

■       74 

Blind  beggar  of  London,  . 

69 

Blind  boy  and  the  Welsh  woman. 

168 

Blind  man 

397 

Blind  Robert,     ,         .         .         . 

883 

Blue  sky  inside, 

.       60 

Boy,  Christ  the, 

•     415 

''         "            Poor, 

41S 

"           Thoughtful, 

421 

"         "           an  Obedient. 

429 

"         "           a  Patient,    . 

.     436 

Boy's  influence.  A,     . 

•    555 

Boy  with  the  spirit  of  C^irist, 

•     729 

Brave  Charlie,    .... 

.     760 

British  man-of-war,     . 

•     139 

Brought  in  by  a  smile. 

.     488 

Bullfinch,  the 

.     814 

933 


934  ANALYTICAL    INDEX    OF  FACTS, 


Burial,  The, 


"         Lessons  taught  by  the  certainty  of  His  death, 
"  ''  the  fulfilment  of  His  word, 

"  ■'  The  working  of  His  provi- 

dence, . 
"  '■  A  lesson  of  Comfort 

Captains  experience. 
Charcoal  carrier,  The, 
Children,  Christ  and  the  little, 
His  great  love  for, 
"        His  great  wisdom, 
**         His  great  encouragement, 
"         Great  lessons. 
Children  in  Africa, 
Children's  service.  The, 
Child's  gospel.  The,   . 
Child's  influence  for  good. 
Child's  preservation.  A, 
Chinaman  and  the  minister, 
Christ  and  the  dying  thief, 
Christ,  naming  of. 

Importance  of  the  name  of, 
*'        Wonderful  authority, 
"  "  comfort, 

"  "  salvation, 

glory, 
"  "  stability. 

Christian  miner,  The 
Christ  in  the  temple,  , 
Clara's  obstinacy, 
Cleansing  fountain,     . 
Coachman  and  his  prayer, 
Coleridge, 
Cottage  on  fire, 
Collect, 
Collect, 

Congleton,  (Lord),  and  his  servants. 
Covenant,  Christ  the  messenger  of  thC; 
Cross,  The, 
Crucifixion,  The, 

Place  of, 
"         Time  of, 
Manner  of, 
Wonders  of, 
"         Words  spoken  by  Jesus  at  time  o 

Lesson  of  Forgiveness  from,  . 
"         Lesson  on  Duty  to  parents  from, 
"         Lesson  about  the  power  and  willingness   of 

•   Jesus  to  save,  from, 
"         Lesson  about  the  depth  of  His  sufferings. 
Lesson  about  the  wonders  of  His  love, 
Curse  of  the  granted  prayer,      .         .         .         , 
Curtius,  Marcus,         ...... 

D\NGER  of  self-confidence, 
David.— Christ  the  king  like,     . 
"     Because  he  was  a  chosen  king, 
"     Because  he  was  a  prepared  king, 
"     David  as  a  shepherd  and  a  soldier,  (illustrated) 

Christ  prepared  by  obedience  and  suffering, 
"     Because  he  was  a  victorious  king,     . 
"     David  and  Goliath,  (illustrated), 
Dead  raven,        ........ 

Deaf  and  dumb  boy, 


PAGE. 

805 
811 
812 

817 
820 
284 
492 
624 
628 
631 

635 
640 
626 
856 
519 
925 
258 
251 
272 

349 
350 
352 
354 
357 
362 
366 

49 
426 

744 
792 
505 
514 
398 
439 
482 

44 
269 

539 
779 
780 
780 
7S2 
783 
783 
784 
786 

791 
795 
796 

723 
456 

892 
194 
196 
202 
202 
206 
208 
208 
562 
718 


PAGE. 

Death  of  the  first-born,      ..,,...  130 

Debt  paid,  The, 459 

Delivered  by  a  dog,    ........  818 

Desertion,  The  betrayal  and, 733 

"         Things  taught  about  Jesus: 

"         The  loneliness  of  His  sufferings,       .         .         .  737 

*'         His  willingness  to  suffer,            ....  740 

Dixey's  six  cents 861 

Doesn't  He  love  to  save  ? 637 

Doing  good  by  sympathy 524 

Drive  the  nail,    .........  506 

Dying  girl.  The, 512 

ETHIOPI.^N,  The 401 

Every  talent  useful,  .......  684 

Example  of  forgiveness,     .......  553 

Examples  of  forgiveness,    .......  784 

FABLE  of  the  oali  and  the  violet 614 

Faithful  soldier  and  his  reward,          ....  685 

Farragut,  Admiral,     ........  308 

Fiery  serpents,    .........  140 

Fisherman's  mistake,           .......  615 

Fletcher's  disappointment,           ......  135 

Folly  of  a  sailor's  self-confidence,      .....  895 

Folly  of  a  soldier's  self-confidence 894 

For  Charlie's  sake,      ........  98 

Forgiving  boy,   .........  784 

For  Thine  is  the  power,      .......  499 

Fragments,  The  use  of,       ......         .  495 

Frog  a  sacred  animal,         .         .         .         .         .         .         .117 

GABRIEL,  The  angel, 272 

Gethsemane,  Jesus  in,        .....         .  711 

"             The  facts  of,          .....  712 

"             Lesson  about  Prayer,    ....  714 

"  Lesson  about  Sin,  .         .       '.         .718 

"             Lesson  about  Submission,     .         .         .  722 

"             Lesson  about  Tenderness,     .         ,         ,  727 

Girard,  Stephen,         ........  313 

Girl  from  the  jungle,  .......          .  389 

Giving,  God's  way  for  getting,  ......  409 

God  loves  bad  children,      .......  246 

God  loves  me, 346 

Golden  rule  and  the  new  commandment,  ....  132 

Good  for  evil, 554 

Good  friends,      .........  680 

Good  Samaritan,         ........  548 

Good  that  children  do,        .......  633 

Gospel  in  a  kiss.  The, 453 

Grasshopper,  The 471 

Great  harvest  from  a  little  seed, 686 

Greek  word  for  day  and  night,   ......  235 

Growth  of  lying 748 

HAPPY  deaf  mute, 60 

Havelock  (Genl.)  and  his  boy,         ....  449 

Heber's  (Bishop)  prayer, 13S 

Hebrew  children, '39 

Hebrew  nurse,   .........  107 

Helper,  Promise  of  the.     .......  9 

"     A  human,       .......         .11 

"     A  suffering 15 

"     A  successful 21 


LESSONS    AND    ILLUSTRATIVE    INCIDENTS. 


935 


PAGE. 

Help  of  feeling  Jesus  near, 739 

He  loved  me,      .........  543 

Henry  the  Eighth 13 

Herod  the  king  of  the  Jews,       ......  108 

Home  duties,  importance  of,      .....         .  420 

Honey  Shield,     .........  549 

Hope  for  the  lost, 800 

Hope  of  glory 707 

How  a  Bishop  taught,         .......  785 

How  a  boy  may  serve  God,         ......  676 

How  a  boy  showed  his  love  for  Christ,        ....  844 

How  a  wonderful  hymn  was  written,          ....  361 

How  a  Christmas  card  saved  a  soul, 878 

How  Christ  should  be  honored,           .....  659 

How  little  God  thinks  of  earthly  riches,     ....  340 

How  little  God  thinks  of  places,         .....  340 

How  God  feels  towards  sin,         ......  342 

How  God  loves  sinners,      .......  345 

How  to  become  a  willing  servant  of  Jesus,         .         .         .  674 

How  to  get  the  angels  out,         ......  641 

How  to  learn  patience,        .......  768 

How  to  serve  God,     ........  676 

How  to  walk  straight,         .......  661 

How  we  know  there  is  a  Heaven,       .....  657 

Humble  (The)  king,   ........  771 

Humility,  Christ  teaching,            ......  605 

"                     **               By  His  command,      .         .         .  607 

"                     "               By  His  example,        .         .         .  610 
"         The  comfort  we  find  in  it.  .         .         .         .         .612 

"         The  usefulness  connected  with  it,       .         .         .  615 

'*         The  blessing  attending  it,    .         .         .         .         .  619 

Humility,  Examples  of,      ......         .  770 

Humility  proving  a  blessing, 623 

Hushed  tempest,         •          . 573 

ICE  in  summer,        ........  568 

I  feel  it  pull 186 

I  have  seen  Jesus, 377 

I  like  your  Jesus,         ........  523 

Imitating  Christ's  Humility,        ......  611 

Infidel  club, 827 

Infidel  converted  by  a  flower,     ......  210 

Influence  of  the  love  of  Christ,  ......  798 

Influence  of  the  spiritual  Christian  woman,         .         .         .  728 

Instead  of  me,     .........  459 

Irish  minister,     .........  349 

I  so  happy, 356 

It  is  certain  that  God  loves  you, 282 

It's  all  I  can  do," 859 

It's  for  me, 519 

J.-VCOB'S  Dream 291 

Janeway,  Rev.  \Vm ,  823 

Jesus  only, 879 

Jesus  makes  everything  right,     ......  53^ 

Jesus  the  bread  of  life 144 

Jesus  the  healer,          ........  141 

Jesus  on  the  Sea  of  Galilee, 287 

Job 475 

John  and  the  postage  stamp 473 

John,  the  Forerunner,         ....-■•  295 

"      the  Baptist 295 

"           "             Facts  and  lessons  of  his  life :    .         .         .  295 

'■             His  coming  foretold,        ....  296 


PACE. 

John,  the  Baptist.     Gabriel  sent  to  announce  his  coming,  296 

"           "             His  dwelling  in  the  wilderness,                  .  296 

"             H  is  preaching, 299 

"           "             His  baptism,             300 

"           "             John  in  prison, 303 

"           •'             Lessons  taught  by  these,           .         .         .  304 

"           "             Lesson  of  temperance,     ....  306 

"           "             Lesson  of  humility,           ....  309 

''           "             Lesson  of  obedience,        ....  312 

"          "             Lesson  of  courage 315 

John  White's  Hymn 190 

Johnny  and  the  cow,           .......  481 

Jonah  and  Jesus  contrasted  and  compared,        .         .         .  218 
Contrasted  because  Jonah  was  an  unwill- 
ing preacher,      .....  219 

"          "             Contrasted  because  Jonah  was  a  success- 
ful preacher,       .....  222 

"  Contrasted  because  Jonah  was  a  selfish 

preacher,    ......  228 

'*  "  Compared  because  Jonah  was  ready  to 

die  for  the  sake  of  others,           .         .  230 
"             Compared  because  of  the  length  of  time 

Jonah  was  buried,      ....  231 

Joseph  and  Jesus  compared 75 

Like  Jesus  because  he  was  the  sent  one,       .         .  77 
"         Like  Jesus  because  he  was  sent  to  show  his  father's 

love 80 

Like  Jesus  because  his  mission  brought  him  into 

trouble,  being  sold  by  his  brethren,       .         .  83 

"         Like  Jesus  because  he  received  great  honor,         .  91 

Joseph  in  Egj'pt, 91 

"         Like  Jesus  because  he  used  his  power  for  good,  .  96 

Judas, 733 

Judas.     Things  taught  about  the  power  of  sin,          .         .  744 

Things  taught  about  the  growth  of  sin,         .         .  747 

KAZ.4INAK 719 

Kazainak,  the  robber  chief, 719 

Keep  away  from  the  wheels, 260 

King  Ptolemy  and  his  light-house, 368 

LAMB  of  God  I  look  to  Thee, 644 

Lazarus,     .........  59 

Learning  to  love  Jesus,      .......  636 

Learn  to  stoop,  .........  613 

Leaving  it  all  with  Jesus, 540 

Lesson  from  a  pair  of  shoes,      ......  902 

Lesson  of  kindness 551 

Liberality,  Christ  teaching, 582 

"           Lesson  of, 583 

"           (Illustrations  of  this  lesson),  Elijah,          .         .  587 

"                     "             The  Saviour's  gift  of  Himself,     .  589 

"                     "             Sowing  the  grain,         .         .         .  590 
"                     "             The  Ocean,          .         .         .         .591 

Life  in  the  midst  of  danger 660 

Light  in  the  valley 381 

Lily,  The, 650 

Little  blind  boy, '66 

Little  child 239 

Little  girl's  patience, 43^ 

Little  loaf, 620 

Little  Mary, 142 

Little  spring,  The, 632 

Little  substitute, •         •  '9 


936 


ANALYTICAL    INDEX    OF  FACTS, 


Lost  diamond,    .... 
Lost  horse  found, 
Love  leads  to  love,     .      "  . 
Love  stronger  than  de.ath, 
Love  triumphing  over  suffering, 


MAGGIE'S  secret, 
Manna,    .... 
Martyr's  joy,      .... 
Matthew  the  publican, 
Melchizedek,  Christ  like.  Because  he  was  to  teach, 
"  "         Because  he  was  to  atone, 

"  .  *'         Because  he  was  to  intercedi 

"  **         Because  he  was  to  bless, 

elchizedek,  mention  of,  . 

"  Christ  a  priest  like. 

Messenger,  Christ  the, 

"  Christ  a  swift,  . 

"  Christ  a  loving, 

"  Christ  an  ever-present 

'*  Christ  an  able, 

"  Christ  a  faithful. 

Minister  in  the  robber's  vault,    . 
Miracles,  Christ  teaching  by, 

"         Teach  us  that  He  has  power  to  help, 
"         Teach  us  that  He  has  power  to  comfort, 
**         Teach  us  that  He  has  power  to  encourage 
'*         Teach  us  that  He  has  power  to  protect, 
"         Teach  us  that  He  has  power  to  pardon, 
Miser  and  the  hungry  children. 
Mite  song,  The, 
Montgomery's  hymn, 
Morrison,  Dr.,    .... 
Moses — Christ  the  prophet  like, 

"  In  the  danger  attending  his  bir 

"  In  his  preparation  for  his  work 

"  (Illustrated)  preparation  of  privilege 

"  Preparation  of  trial, 

'*  On  account  of  his  miracles, 

"  Because  he  gave  the  people  laws  or 

ments, 
"  Because  of  the  blessings  he  obtain 

people, 
"  Blessing  of  shelter, 

"  Blessing  of  healing, 

"  Blessing  of  bread, 

"  Blessing  of  water, 

Muckle  Bess,      .... 


NAZARETH,  description  of, 
**  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee,' 
New  England  minister, 
Niagara,  falls  of,         .         .         . 
Nineveh,  description  and  history  of. 
Noble  boy.  A,    . 
None  but  Jesus, 
No  pardon  but  from  Jesus, 
Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts. 
Not  alone,  .... 


OBEYING    mother  pleasantly. 
Officer  and  the  soldier, 
Old  man's  struggles,  . 
Old  Patch 


th. 


command- 


ed 


PAGE. 
.  858 
.  520 
.  638 
.  700 
.      92:2 


r  his 


546 
143 
356 
529 
174 
179 

183 
188 
171 
171 
269 
271 
276 
283 
286 
290 
239 
559 
S6i 
566 
570 
574 
578 
600 
490 
366 
310 

lOI 

i"3 
108 
108 
109 
III 

131 

'33 
136 
139 
143 
14s 
793 

418 
452 
724 

443 
223 
681 
355 
580 
71 
738 

450 
595 
472 

316 


PAGE. 

Olivet,  lessons  from 667 

Lesson  about  the  Master 670 

'*               Lesson  about  the  talents,         ....  677 

"               Lesson  about  the  rewards 684 

One  died  for  all,         ........  262 

One  drop  of  evil, 746 

One  talent  improved,          .......  679 

One  neglected  child,           .......  634 

One  worm  did  it,        .......         .  746 

Orphan  provided  for,          .......  253 

Owl,  (The)  that  thought  he  could  sing,      ....  895 

O  yes,  I  will  try, 434 


PARABLES,  Christ  teaching  by, 
"                Meaning  of  the  word,       .         .         .         . 
Parables,  Lessons  illustrated  by  the  value  of  religion, 

"  "  "  Christ's  love  for  sinners,    . 

"  "  "  The  duty  of  kindness, 

"  "  "  The  duty  of  forgiveness,  . 

"  "  "  The  influence   of  good  ex- 

ample,   . 


Pardon  and  peace 

Passover,  feast  of  the, 

"  Reasons  why  the  Israelites  were  commanded 

to  keep,  .... 
"  Reasons  relating  to  the  past, 

'*  Reasons  relating  to  the  future, 

Paul,  Apostle,     ...... 

Paul,  St.  John  and  St 

Character  by  nature,    . 
"         Character  by  grace,     . 

Paul,  St., 

"         Great  in  natural  talents, 

'*  "         His  early  opportunities, 

"         His  prejudice, 
"  *'         His  conversion,    . 

"  "         His  privileges, 

His  labors,    . 
"         Paul's  spirit  in  a  child, 
'*         Great  in  his  influence, 
"         Great  in  his  reward,    . 
Great  in  his  sufferings, 
Pentecost,  day  of,        ....  . 

"  Time  of  the  Spirit's  coming,     . 

"  Manner  of  the  Spirits  coming, 

Purpose  of  the  Spirit's  coming, 
"  To  convert  the  soul,  . 

"  To  teach  men,  . 

*•'  To  sanctify, 

"  To  help  and  comfort, 

Perseverance  rewarded, 
Peter  and  the  tax  gatherer, 
Peter,  Apostle,    ,         .         ,         .         . 
Peter,  The  Apostle,    .... 
'*  ''  The  facts  of  his  history, 

"  ''  Lessons  taught  by  his  historyj 

•'  '*  Deliverance  from  temptation, 

**  "  Overcoming  prejudice, 

"  "  The  benefit  of  trials, 

Peter,  the  message  to,  .  .  . 
Pharaoh's  cruel  law,  .... 
Plague  of  the  flies,  .... 
Plague  of  the  frogs,     .... 


532 
532 
535 
542 
547 
551 

555 
580 
123 

123 
124 
127 
22 
909 
910 

913 
916 
916 
917 
918 
918 
920 
920 
921 
924 
928 
921 
867 
868 
869 

874 
877 
878 
881 
882 
401 
571 
551 
885 
886 
892 
896 
899 
904 
280 
103 
117 
114 


LESSONS    AND    ILLUSTRATIVE    INCIDENTS. 


937 


Infant  Jesus 


Plagues  of  the  locusts  and  darkness, 
Plagues  of  the  murrain,  boils  and  hail 
Power  of  a  kind  word,  The, 
Power  of  kindness. 
Power  of  love,    . 
Power  of  the  cross,     . 
Power  of  the  gospel,  . 
Polish  prince. 

Poor  Caleb  and  the  gentleman 
Poor  rich  minister, 
Prayer,  Answers  to,    . 
Praying  better  than  stealin 
Praying  for  a  dinner. 
Praying  for  bread. 
Preaching  in  the  hay  field. 
Prelate,  story  of. 

Presentation  of  Christ  in  the  temple 
''  What  Simeon  saw  in  the 

"  Salvation, 

"  Light, 

"  Glory, 

•'  The  effect  this  sight  had  on  Si 

"  Readiness  to  depart, 

Prisoner  converted,     . 
Prisoner  of  Glatz, 
Promise,  the  first, 
Protection  through  prayer. 
Providential  deliverance,    . 
Prussian  Nobleman,   . 

RAVEN  of  Winsladc  Quarry, 
Reformed  drunkard's  story 

Rescue,  The 

Results  of  early  choice, 

Resurrection,  The,     . 

"  Proof  of,       . 

■'  Lessons  from  : — 

'*  The  power  of  Christ, 

*'  Power  of  Christ  to  save, 

**  Power  of  Christ  to  provide. 

"  Power  of  Christ  to  Protect, 

*'  Tenderness  of  Christ,  . 

**  The  way  of  showing  our  love  to 

Revenge  overcome,    . 

Reward  of  obedience. 

Rich  for  a  moment,     . 

River  turned  into  blood 

Robber  taught,   . 

Rochester,  The  Bishop  of, 


Him 


PAGE. 
1 20 
118 

454 
841 
742 
654 

554 
787 

HS 
57 
36 

716 

504 
572 
85s 
760 

370 
374 
374 
377 
381 
38s 
385 
213 
288 
I 
257 
576 
148 

818 
67 
863 
634 
82s 
827 

834 
834 
837 
833 

839 
843 
216 
665 
341 
"3 
176 
823 


S.AVED  by  a  knee, 53° 

Saved  by  prayer,         .......  865 

Saved  from  a  lion.       ........  375 

Sacrifice  for  the  first-born,  ....*•  372 

SaHor  boy's  belief,       ........  5^4 

Sampson 306 

Saying  all  the  time,     ........  412 

Sculptor's  (The)  lesson 905 

Secret  of  comfort,        ........  614 

Secret  passage  way,    ........  898 

Secret  of  success 59^ 

Selden,  Coleridge,  and  Wilberforce,  .....  5^4 

Selden,  John, 5M 


TAGB. 

Shark  of  the  Mediterranean, 232 

Sheba,  Queen  of, 374 

Shepherd  of  Berne, 252 

Shepherd,  Christ  the, 245 

•'  "         Because  He  seeks  them  when  lost,     .     247 

**     _  "         Because  He  feeds  and  takes  care  of 

them 252 

"  "         Because  He  protects  them,         .         .     257 

"  '*         Because  He  saves  tliem,     .         .         .     260 

Shining  in  every  window, 568 

Sick  sailor 161 

Simeon, 354 

Sin  like  a  whirlpool 749 

Smiting  the  rock,         . 14^ 

Snake  and  the  spider, 748 

Sodom  and  Gomorrah 342 

Soldier  in  the  Crimea, 147 

Soldier's  example  of  patience, 768 

Solitary  feast, 63 

Solomon,  Christ  the  King  like 212 

"         Because  He  was  a  wise  King 212 

"         Because  He  was  a  peaceful  King,      .         .         .     215 

Solomon's  choice, 212 

Somebody's  mother, 842 

Soul  compared  to  a  fort 9 

Soul  saved  by  a  tear, 376 

Spirit  of  Christ  in  a  little  girl 728 

Star  in  the  crown, 928 

Steamboat  captain  and  the  soldier 597 

Stream  and  the  mill 676 

Substitute,  The, 182 

Supper,  the  Lord's, 689 

"  "  Account  of,  .         ,         .         .         .         .     689 

"  *'  Its  connection  with  the  word  of  com- 

mand, ......     694 

"  "  Its  connection  with  the  memory  of  His 

sufferings,     .....     696 

"  ''  Its  connection   with   the  hope   of  his 

glory, 704 

Swarin  of  bees  worth  having, 538 

Swiss  shepherd 247 

Sympathy  with  the  poor 422 

Syro- Phoenician  woman, 400 

TABERNACLE,  Jewish,  a  figure  of  Christ,  .         .         .151 

Wliat  it  was, 151 

Tabernacle,  enclosure, 155 

"           The  holy  place, 157 

What  it  tauglit : 158 

''                 That  there  would  be  a  pardoning  presence,  160 
"                 That  there  would  be  a  purifying  presence,  163 
"                 That  there  would  be  an  enlightening  pre- 
sence.          ......  164 

"                 That  there  would  be  a  comforting  presence,  166 

Taboo,  heathen  custom  called, 74 

Talent,  (A)  for  each, 674 

Tartar  chief, 380 

Teacher,  The  Great 509 

"         Becauseof  the  great  Blessings,    ....  510 

•'         Because  of  the  great  Simplicity,         .         .         .  514 

"         Because  of  the  great  Tenderness,       .         .         .  519 

"         Because  of  the  great  Knowledge,       .         .         .  525 

"         Because  of  the  great  Power 529 

Telegram,  The 262 


933 


ANALYTICAL    INDEX. 


Temptation  of  Christ,  The 
''         Meaning  of, 
"        Place  of,     . 
"        Led  into,    . 
**         The  Tempter, 
"         Time  of,      . 
''         To  turn  stones  into  bread 
"         To  throw  Himself  from  the  pinnacle, 
'*         To  worship  Satan,       .         ,         •         . 
"         Teaches  us  that  we  must  expect  temptation 
"        Teaches  us  there  is  no  sin  in  being  tempted 
"         Teaches  us  how  to  resist  temptation, 
*'         Teaches  us  the   reward  of  victory  over  tempta- 
tion, 

Ten  Commandments, 

Thames  Tunnel, 

That's  me,  . 

Themistocles, 

The  best  that  I  can, 

There  is  that  scattereth  and  yet  increaseth. 

There  were  ninety  and  nine, 

Thou  God  seest  me,   ..... 

Thou  God  seest  me,  ..... 

Thou  shall  bruise  his  heel. 

Thou  who  once  on  mother's  knee, 

Three  jewels,      ...... 

Tiny's  work  for  God,  .... 

Train  delayed,    ...... 

Transfiguration,  The,  ,         .         .         , 

"  Account  of,  . 

"  Mount  of,     . 

"  The  wonderful  change, 

*'  The  wonderful  company, 

"  The  wonderful  conversation 

"  The  lesson  of  hope, 

"  The  lesson  of  instruction, 

"  The  lesson  of  duty. 

Travellers  in  the  desert,      .... 

Travellers  in  the  snow,        .... 

T.rial,  The,  ...... 

''  History  of,         ...         . 

"  Lesson  about  the  weak  ruler,    . 

*'  Lesson  about  the  wicked  priests,  . 

*'  Lesson  about  the  patience  of  Christ, 

"  A  soldier's  example  of  patience, 

"  Lesson  about  the  humiliation  of  Christ, 

"  Lesson  about  the  glory  of  Christ, 


462 
464 
464 

465 
466 
467 
468 
469 
470 
471 
474 
477 

479 
131 
617 
608 
632 
63o 
604 
522 
478 
899 
15 
14 
384 
682 
186 
645 
646 
646 
646 
651 
6S4 
656 
658 
660 
138 
594 
753 
754 
759 
763 
766 
768 
769 
772 


PAGE. 

True  hero.  The,     ........  774 

Truthful  and  obedient 432 

Try  it 813 

Two  brothers, 765 

TTGLYGreg 530 

\j      Unexpected  (The)  friend, 844 

WANDERER  restored, 81 

Wanted  a  boy 450 

Washington's  humility,       .......  618 

Washington's  prayer,          .......  716 

Wasp's  sting,      .........  386 

Was  there  ever  gentlest  shepherd? 516 

Water  for  cleansing.  ........  146 

Water  for  comfort,     ........  147 

We  cannot  be  our  own  masters, 672 

Wellington,  Duke  of,          .......  21 

Wellington,  Duke  of,          .......  312 

Well-instructed  boy,           ....,.,  527 

Wesley,  (Charles),  and  the  bird, 361 

Wesley's  patience,      ........  438 

Western  sky,  The, 650 

Wet  sand,  The, 458 

What  a  plant  did, 488 

Why  didn't  I  mind  my  mother?         .....  433 

Widow  and  the  candles      .......  275 

Widow  of  Nain, 279 

Widow  of  Nain, 59 

Wilberforce, 514 

Willie's  heroism,          ........  577 

Wise  men,  Visit  of, 392 

"           Earnest  seekers  of  Jesus, 396 

"           Persevering  seekers,          .....  398 

**           Successful  seekers.    ......  402 

''           Liberal  seekers,         ......  406 

*'          Happy  seekers,          ......  410 

Woman  of  Samaria,  ........  513 

Working  as  well  as  praying,        ......  505 

Workingman's  child,           .......  293 

VISIT  of  the  Wise  men, 392 

Von  Zeiten,  General, 317 

V^OUNG  hero,  A, 857 


Index  of  Poems. 


PAGE. 

A    DREARY  place  would  be  this  earth 633 

All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name 658 

All  is  o'er,  the  pain,  the  sorrow 809 

/^AN  I  Gethsemane  forget? 732 

TA  ARE  to  do  right!  dare  to  be  true  ! 762 

Drive  the  nail  aright,  boys 506 

"nVERY  talent  useful 684 

"PATHER  of  mercies!  in  thy  word 558 

From  everything  our  Saviour  saw 5^6 

r^  OD  entrusts  to  all 678 

Great  things  are  made  of  fragments  small.  .    .    .  495 

T  TE  is  a  path,  if  any  be  misled 356 

How  sweet  is  the  Gospel 460 

"  T   CANNOT  do  much,"  said  a  little  star 680 

I  have  found  the  Pearl  of  greatest  price.  .    .    .  411 

I  go  to  life  and  not  to  death.  ...        842 

I  leave  it  all  with  Jesus 542 

Is  thy  cruse  of  comfort  wasting  ? 604 

T  AMB  of  God,  I  look  to  thee 644 

Light  after  darkness,  gain  after  loss 687 


PAGE. 

A  f  Y  soul  be  on  thy  guard 752 

ATO  foot  of  land  do  I  possess 58 

None  but  Jesus 354 

Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts 71 

Not  ourselves,  but  the  truths  in  life  we  have  spoken.  .  927 

Numb  and  weary  on  the  mountains 595 

/^NCE  in  his  arms  the  Saviour  took 640 

Only  a  drop  in  the  bucket 491 

Oppressed  with  noon -day's  scorching  heat 655 

O  yes,  I  will  try  for  the  whole  of  the  day 434 

TJRAISE  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ....  815 

QEE  the  kind  shepherd  Jesus,  stands 267 

Shining  for  Jesus 845 

"Somebody's  mother." 842 

T^HE  reward  of  Heaven 687 

There  were  ninety  and  nine 522 

Think  kindly  of  the  erring 551 

Thou  art  coming !  at  thy  table 709 

Thou  who  once  on  mother's  knee 14 

Though  little  I  bring 684 

T  TGLY  Greg  was  the  prisoner's  name 530 

"VTfAS  there  ever,  gentlest  Shepherd 516 

939 


; 


+*■ 


PnrKfKin  Tdcoioqicat  Sein.naf»-Sp«f'  Library 


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